Local officials installed by Moscow in Kherson in southern Ukraine said they intended to ask President Vladimir Putin for the region to join Russia, in the clearest sign yet that the Kremlin plans to annex the province.
Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, told reporters on Wednesday that “the residents of Kherson should decide” whether to become part of Russia, according to Interfax. Russian forces have occupied the southern region of Ukraine since the early weeks of its invasion.
Peskov added: “Such fateful decisions must have absolutely clear legal grounds and standing, be completely legal just as it was in the case of Crimea”. The neighbouring peninsula was annexed from Ukraine by Russia in 2014 after it sent in its special forces ahead of a stage-managed referendum.