Four Ukrainian regions to hold referendums to join Russia

Four Ukrainian regions are to hold referendums to join Russia in a matter of days, mirroring the move that was taken by the former Ukrainian region of Crimea in 2014 that led to its incorporation into the Russian Federation.

Speaking on Tuesday, the pro-Russian leaders of the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, the southern region of Kherson, and the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia announced that they were to hold the votes as soon as Friday, the Associated Press reported.

Also in 2014, Donetsk and Lugansk, which together form the Donbas region, broke away from Ukraine, refusing to recognize a Western-backed Ukrainian government there that had overthrown a democratically-elected administration.

Back in February, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing the two regions as independent republics.

Later that month, Russia launched "a special military operation" aimed at “demilitarizing” Donbas. Announcing the operation, Putin said the mission was aimed at “defending people who for eight years are suffering persecution and genocide by the Kiev regime.”

The operation then expanded to involve Kherson and Zaporizhzhia amid the United States' and its allies' incessant arming of the Ukrainian military.

Announcing the pending referendum, Donetsk's Leader Denis Pushilin said the vote would “restore historic justice" to the territory's “long-suffering people." They “have earned the right to be part of the great country that they always considered their motherland,” he added.

In Zaporizhzhia, pro-Russia activist Vladimir Rogov said, “The faster we become part of Russia, the sooner peace will come.”

ME