The vote will be held from September 23-27, the head of the separatist parliament, Denis Miroshnichenko, said on Tuesday, according to the Interfax news agency. Earlier, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had pushed for a referendum to annex the separatist regions of Donbass in eastern Ukraine. This could strengthen the Russian military offensive in the neighboring country. The referendums in Donbass are not only of great importance for the protection of residents, but also to restore “historical justice”, Medvedev wrote on Tuesday in the online network Telegram.
Medvedev added: “Trespassing into Russian territory constitutes a crime,” Medvedev wrote in online networks on Tuesday. Moscow could “use all means of self-defense” to defend itself, emphasized the current deputy chairman of the Russian National Security Council.
Pro-Russian authorities in Ukraine are calling for referendums to be held on union with Russia. The occupiers’ concerns are growing due to the counter-offensive by Ukrainian forces in north-eastern and southern Ukraine, where the Ukrainians have been able to recapture large areas. Senior pro-Russian representative in Donbass Denis Pushilin said on Tuesday that the separatist “republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk have been “actively” working on a referendum on joining Russia since Monday evening.
Source: Nachrichten
