The separatist territory of Lugansk, located in Ukrainian territory whose independence Moscow has recognized, could soon hold a referendum to join Russia, said Sunday the leader of this territory, Leonid Passetchnik.
“I think that in the near future a referendum will be held on the territory of the (self-proclaimed Lugansk, editor’s note) republic, during which the people will exercise their absolute constitutional right and express their opinion on joining the Russian Federation “, he said, quoted by the Russian agencies.
“I don’t know why, I’m sure it will,” he added, without giving details of a possible date.
The pro-Russian separatist republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, whose independence Moscow has recognized, are located in the Russian-speaking Donbass mining basin (eastern Ukraine) and have escaped kyiv’s control since 2014.
The war that has pitted the separatists against the kyiv authorities since then has claimed more than 14,000 lives.
Their independence, proclaimed after referendums, is not recognized by the international community.
On February 21, in a highly choreographed sequence, President Vladimir Putin recognized their independence and responded to their demand for “defense cooperation”.
This was a prelude to the entry, on February 24, of Russian troops into Ukraine, on the grounds, according to the Kremlin, of defending these separatist territories.