JAKARTA - The region that separated and declared itself the Luhansk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine may soon hold a referendum on its choice to join Russia.
The plan for the vote was revealed by the leader of Luhansk, Leonid Pasechnik, on Sunday as quoted by the rebel territory's news media.
"I think in the near future there will be a referendum on the territory of the republic," Pasechnik said as reported by Antara. "The people will exercise their main constitutional rights and express their opinion whether to join the Russian Federation."
Russia in February recognized Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states. Similar to Luhansk, Donetsk declared itself a republic.
Shortly after giving recognition to the two regions, Russia ordered the deployment of troops, which it described as a peacekeeping operation in the region.
On February 24, Russia sent tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine to carry out what it called a special operation to weaken its neighboring country's military capabilities and eliminate people it said were dangerous nationalists.
The Ukrainian army fought hard against the Russian troops.
Western powers, meanwhile, have imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in a bid to force it to withdraw its troops from Ukraine.
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