A self-proclaimed soldier of the Independent Luhansk People's Republic voted at a local polling station on the 23rd.

(Reuters)

[Compiled by Chen Chengliang/Comprehensive Report] Four pro-Russian forces or areas controlled by the Russian army in Ukraine are holding a "referendum on accession to Russia", which is expected to end on the 27th.

Russia's "Tass" reported that the "State Duma", the lower house of the Russian parliament, will debate the integration of these four regions into Russia on the 29th; the Russian Federation Council (the upper house) may also discuss related bills on the same day; Russian President Vladimir Putin may be on the 30th. In a speech to the joint meeting of the two houses, it is expected that the four places will be officially incorporated into Russia on the same day.

"Considering the preliminary results of the referendum and Russia's readiness to recognize them, these territories (Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporozhye) join Russia," a member of the State Duma told TASS. It could happen as early as September 30."

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The move is expected to raise the risk of conflict, and if the four are formally annexed, it means Russia will see any military action in these places as an attack on its own territory.

Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president and now the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, has warned that Moscow can use any weapon, including strategic nuclear weapons, to defend territory it has joined Russia from Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Kiev condemned the referendum, saying it was a "crime against international law and Ukrainian law".

He emphasized that the Ukrainian army will recover all occupied territories including the eastern Donbas region and Crimea, and Russia must be punished for launching the war.