China News Service, February 24. According to a report by "Russia Today" (RT), on the 22nd local time, the leaders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions sent letters to Russian President Vladimir Putin, requesting Russia to provide military assistance.
Smoke billows after a power and heating plant was shelled in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine on February 22, 2022.
The letter shows that both places cite the contents of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, asking Moscow to "provide assistance to repel the military aggression of the Ukrainian regime", saying that Kiev is waging war against them, local civilian facilities are damaged, forcing more than 40,000 people get away.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order on the recognition of the "Donetsk People's Republic" and the "Luhansk People's Republic" on the 21st local time, as well as a treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance between Russia and the two "republics" respectively.