Russia suggests November 4 annexation vote for occupied Ukrainian territories

Referendum would mirror vote held in occupied Crimea in 2014

A woman looks at a building left scarred after a cluster bomb attack in Sloviansk, Ukraine. Getty Images

People living in occupied regions of Ukraine should vote on annexation on November 4, the leader of Russia's governing party said on Wednesday.

Andrei Turchak, head of President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party, suggested the date would be “correct and symbolic”, as it is a day on which Russia celebrates national unity.

Ukraine and its allies have previously denounced similar plans for referendums.

Mr Turchak added that the vote would “definitely” take place this year.

Russia controls about one fifth of Ukraine's territory and has moved to “Russify” occupied areas, including by handing out Russian passports and imposing a new school curriculum and TV programming.

Ukraine wants disputed and captured regions returned to its control.

The suggested vote would mirror one held in occupied Crimea in 2014 after Russia annexed it from Ukraine. Ukraine and western governments denounced that referendum as illegal.

Russian Malka artillery systems are fired from an undisclosed location in Ukraine. AP

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits a training ground for Ukrainian soldiers in Putlos near Oldenburg, Germany. AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) hands The Order of Liberty medal to Boris Johnson in Kyiv. The UK Prime Minister visited on Ukraine’s Independence Day. AFP

Destruction in Chaplyne, Dnipropetrovsk region. Reuters

The UN Security Council votes on whether to allow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to address the meeting via video link on threats to international peace and security. AP

A pro-Ukrainian statue in Prague, Czech Republic. AP

Krystyna Kopaczewska takes part in a Ukrainian Independence Day rally outside Downing Street in London. Reuters

Firefighters work to extinguish flames at a shopping centre Galaktika after Russian shelling in Donetsk. Reuters

Ukrainian servicemen fire at Russian positions in Kharkiv region. AP

Destroyed Russian tanks and military equipment on Khreshchatyk, a street in central Kyiv, have been turned into an outdoor military museum. AFP

The US said Moscow is trying to follow the same “playbook” now.

A Moscow-appointed government in the occupied Ukrainian region of Kherson on Monday suspended plans for a referendum on joining Russia as Ukraine continues its counter-offensive in the territory.

Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the Kherson administration, said the plans were put on hold because of the security situation, Tass news agency reported.

Russian officials want to hold referendums in several occupied regions, including the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, alongside elections in Russia.