Russian-Backed Separatist Regions Announce Referendums Amid Ukrainian Advances

Ukrainian forces are preparing to take the remainder of Luhansk province from Russian occupiers.

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Ukraine said its troops are continuing to make gains moving eastward toward the Russian-occupied Donbas region, and have retaken a village west of Lysychansk, which means Russia no longer has full control of Luhansk province.

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Separatist Regions Announce Referendums Despite Ukrainian Advances

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian troops were gaining ground as Russian soldiers abandoned territory.

Russia-backed separatists in the self-declared Luhansk People’s Republic and the Donetsk People’s Republic said they would hold referendums on joining Russia between September 23-27.

Dmitry Medvedev said it is “essential” for the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics to hold referendums to join the Russian Federation.

Moscow-backed leaders in the Russian-occupied Kherson region of southern Ukraine and pro-Russia activists in the partly-occupied Zaporizhzhia region plan to hold speedy referendums on joining Russia.

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