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LIVE UPDATES: DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye, Kherson Regions Hold Referendums on Joining Russia

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Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine in February after the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) appealed for help to... 23.09.2022, Sputnik International

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LIVE UPDATES: DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye, Kherson Regions Hold Referendums on Joining Russia

05:17 GMT 23.09.2022 (Updated: 18:59 GMT 23.09.2022)

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Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine in February after the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) appealed for help to defend themselves against Ukrainian aggression.

On Tuesday, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, along with the Russian-controlled parts of the regions of Zaporozhye and Kherson, said that they would hold referendums on accession to Russia from 23 to 27 September.

The next day, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization in the country. The measure is prompted by the need to control the 1,000-kilometer (621-mile) contact line with Ukrainian forces and Russian-controlled territories.

The DPR and LPR proclaimed their independence from Ukraine in 2014 after holding referendums. In February 2022, Russia recognized the DPR and LPR as independent states and launched a military operation in Ukraine in response to calls for help from the two breakaway republics.

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21:37 GMT 23.09.2022

Syrian Foreign Minister Tells Sputnik Ukraine Conflict Not in Interest of Ukrainian People

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The conflict in Ukraine is absolutely not in the interest of the Ukrainian people and the negotiating table is the place where all the issues must be resolved, Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal Mekdad told Sputnik.

"I think this war is absolutely not in the interest of the Ukrainian people, and the negotiating table is the place to solve all these problems," Mekdad said on Friday.

The Syrian Foreign Minister also noted that the crisis in Ukraine has affected the entire world.

"I put the entire responsibility on the Ukrainian side, on the Western side. The support given by the United States and Western countries to Ukraine is counterproductive," Mekdad said.

The Syrian Foreign Minister also said that it seems to him the United States and its allies want to "fight until the last Ukrainian."

21:02 GMT 23.09.2022

Biden Says US to Work With Allies to Impose Additional Costs on Russia Over Referendums in Ukraine

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States will work with its partners to impose additional economic costs on Russia in response to the expected accession of four regions to Russia during popular referenda, US President Joe Biden said.

"The United States will never recognize Ukrainian territory as anything other than part of Ukraine," Biden said in a statement on Friday. "We will work with our allies and partners to impose additional swift and severe economic costs on Russia. The United States stands with our partners around the world - and with every nation that respects the core tenets of the UN charter - in rejecting whatever fabricated outcomes Russia will announce."

The Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics as well as the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions are holding referenda on whether to join Russia. The areas have been largely secured by Russian forces during Moscow's special military operation in response to requests for help from the regions due to mistreatment by the Kiev regime.

20:35 GMT 23.09.2022

Turnout at Referendum in DPR on First Day Is Higher Than Expected, All Residents Will Vote - Pushilin

19:33 GMT 23.09.2022

US Takes Alleged Russian Nuclear Threats ‘Very Seriously’ – White House

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States takes the alleged Russian nuclear threats very seriously but does not see any reason to adjust its nuclear posture at this time, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said on Friday.

"We obviously take these [Russian nuclear] threats very seriously, but we have not seen any reason to adjust our own nuclear posture at this time," Jean-Pierre said during a press briefing.

19:18 GMT 23.09.2022

No EU Threats May Change Russia's Determination to Achieve Goals in Ukraine - Moscow

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - No threats from the EU or other Western countries will change Russia's determination to achieve all the goals and objectives of the special military operation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"No threats from the EU or other Western countries will change our determination to achieve all the goals and objectives of the Special Military Operation and ensure the protection of the Russian population," the statement says.

19:16 GMT 23.09.2022

US Ready to Impose Sanctions on Russia If Moves Forward With 'Annexation' - White House

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States and its allies are prepared to impose new sanctions on Russia if it moves forward with the "annexation" of Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine after referendums, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Friday.

The breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk (DPR and LPR) as well as the Russian-controlled regions of Zaporozhye and Kherson hold referendums on accession to Russia from September 23-27.

"We are prepared to impose additional swift and severe economic costs on Russia, along with our allies and partners, in response to these actions, if they move forward with annexation," Jean-Pierre said during a press briefing, adding that the United States will continue to provide Ukraine with security assistance.

18:16 GMT 23.09.2022

Explosion Hits Melitopol, Anti-Missile Defense System Shot Down Ukrainian Drone, Local Authorities Say

18:08 GMT 23.09.2022

Over 73,000 Residents of LPR Voted in Russia on First Day of Referendum, Republic's Central Electoral Commission Says

18:06 GMT 23.09.2022

Moscow: Instead of Helping to End Ukraine Conflict, EU Prolongs It

Instead of helping to end the conflict in Ukraine, the European Union does not hide the desire to prolong the hostilities, despite the casualties and destruction, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Instead of helping to end the conflict, the European Union does not hide its desire to prolong the hostilities as much as possible, despite the casualties and destruction, to ensure 'victory on the battlefield,' to weaken our country with the help of illegitimate unilateral restrictions," the statement says.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that the EU's position was especially cynical, because through this previously peaceful integration association, in violation of not only international, but also its own rules for controlling the export of military technologies and equipment, the Kiev regime was being pumped up with lethal weapons.

18:06 GMT 23.09.2022

Borrell's Statement on Partial Mobilization, Referenda Lacks Objectivity - Moscow

The statement of EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell about partial mobilization in Russia and referenda in the liberated territories is riddled with a "confrontational mood," devoid of objectivity and out of touch with reality, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Borrell earlier threatened Russia with new sanctions over the partial mobilization and the referenda.

"We paid attention to this statement by the head of European diplomacy, which reflects the common position of EU countries. Like many recent statements by Josep Borrell, it is riddled with a confrontational mood, completely devoid of objectivity and out of touch with reality," Zakharova said in a statement.

She stressed that the accusations of Russia from the European Union were hypocritical, given how Brussels turned a blind eye to the transformation of Ukraine into a totalitarian state of the "Nazi type," where for many years basic human rights and freedoms had been violated, including to life, freedom of speech, access to information, freedom of expression of opinion, freedom of conscience, use of one's native language. In addition, there is a total mobilization of the entire adult population, including women, for recruitment into the ranks of the national battalions and the Ukrainian army.

17:35 GMT 23.09.2022

Turnout at Referendum in Zaporozhye Region is 20,52% as of 17:00 GMT, Head of Electoral Commission Says

17:04 GMT 23.09.2022

Turnout at Referendum in LPR is 21,97% as of 17:00 GMT, Local Electoral Commission Says

16:59 GMT 23.09.2022

Finland to Restrict Entry, Transit From Russia in Coming Days

Finland will restrict the transit of Russians with Schengen visas, as well as the entry of Russian tourists into the country, in the coming days, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said on Friday.

Since September 19, Finland has been the only EU country bordering Russia with a land border open to Russians. Earlier on Friday, the Finnish authorities announced that a decision in principle to ban tourism and transit from Russia had been made.

"Based on this decision, the movement of tourists will be stopped. Visas may be suspended or restricted, except for special groups, such as people visiting relatives. They [groups allowed to enter] will be detailed in the decision," Haavisto said at a briefing broadcast by the Finnish media.

The minister noted that the decision would come into force in the coming days.

"There is no exact date, but this is a tough decision. All tourist flows across the border will be blocked. This applies both to those who travel on Schengen visas previously issued by Finland, and to those who travel on Schengen visas issued by other countries," Haavisto said.

He noted that the preferential procedure for obtaining visas for property owners will be closed.

"Details of the decision are still being discussed. Visas can be issued for reasons such as family relationships, study and work. The loophole for property owners will be closed," Haavisto said.

The minister noted that a fundamental decision had been made, and all involved departments were urgently clarifying legal details.

15:43 GMT 23.09.2022

'This is Fake': Peskov Comments on Reports and Messages in Social Media About Increase in Number of Mobilized Over 300,000

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed reports of alleged draft of more than 300,000 people as part of the partial mobilization.

Earlier, in a number of media and Telegram channels, there were reports that more than one million people were called.

"These are all fakes," Peskov told Sputnik.

15:15 GMT 23.09.2022

Some EU States Propose to Ban Use of Russian LNG, Limit Nuclear Cooperation - Reports

A number of EU countries are going to propose to include ban on the use of the Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) products and restrict nuclear energy cooperation with Moscow in a new sanctions package against Russia, Bloomberg reported on Friday.

Poland, Ireland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania plan to introduce a ban on Russian LNG as part of new EU sanctions against Russia, as well as put restrictions on nuclear energy cooperation, according to a document obtained by the news agency.

Another measures that could possibly be proposed by this group of EU countries include a ban on transfer of US dollar banknotes to Russia and stricter control over transactions of crypto assets, Bloomberg wrote.

15:13 GMT 23.09.2022

Kherson Region Official Says Observers From US, France Monitoring Vote on Joining Russia

Observers from the United States and France are monitoring the course of the referendum in the Russian-controlled parts of the Kherson region of Ukraine, spokeswoman of the local election commission, Marina Zakharova, said on Friday.

"Foreign observers have already arrived, they are representatives of two countries - France and the United States. They expressed a desire to travel to remote areas of the Kherson region, and we provided them with such an opportunity. At the moment they are working with our voters," Zakharova told reporters.

On Tuesday, the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luпansk (DPR and LPR), as well as the Russian-controlled parts of the Ukrainian regions of Zaporozhye and Kherson, said that they would hold referendums on accession to Russia from September 23-27.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced his support for referenda, causing a backlash from the Western countries. In particular, on Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced that the bloc would impose new sanctions on Russia's leadership and people involved in organizing referenda.

The DPR and LPR proclaimed their independence from Ukraine in 2014 after holding self-determination referendums. In February 2022, Russia recognized the DPR and LPR and launched a military operation in Ukraine in response to calls for help from the two breakaway republics.

14:22 GMT 23.09.2022