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Pro-Russian governments in the Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine announced that they would hold a referendum to formally annex Russia.
Ukraine reacted strongly and warned that it would eliminate the Russian threat.
Kwak Sang-eun is a correspondent in Paris.
<Reporter> The
administrations of the Russian occupied territories in Ukraine have announced that they will hold a referendum on annexation of Russia from the 23rd to the 27th.
It includes most of the Russian-occupied territories, including the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic of Donbas in eastern Ukraine, as well as the southern Zaporiza Oblast and Kherson Oblast.
[Vladimir Saldo / Head of the pro-Russian administration in Kherson Province: If there is a positive referendum result, I will ask President Putin to approve the merger as soon as possible.
It won't take long.]
The announcement came after Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian National Security Council, urged a referendum in the occupied territories, saying, "Invading Russian territory is a crime that can mobilize all self-defense forces."
In these regions, it was originally expected that an annexation vote would be held on the occasion of 'National Unity Day' on November 4, but the voting date has been significantly advanced as the Ukrainian military has recently achieved results in retaking the occupied territories.
Ukraine's chief of staff, Andriy Yermac, warned that "threats can only be removed by force".