Russia on Donbass Referendums: DPR, LPR Want to Be 'Masters of Their Own Destiny' | Farsnews Agency

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that the fact that the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) decided to hold referendums to join Russia demonstrates that the Donbass republics want to be "masters of their own destiny".

"From the very beginning of the special military operation [in Ukraine] and in the days preceding it, we said that the peoples [of Donbass] should decide their fate. And the current situation confirms that they want to be masters of their own destiny," Lavrov said, RIA Novosti reported.

The DPR and LPR announced their plans to simultaneously hold referendums to join Russia following the respective requests from their Civil Councils. The bills ordering the holding of referendums were passed by the republics' parliaments the next day and voting is scheduled to be held between September 23 and 27.

The administrations of Kherson and Zaporozhye also announced on September 20 plans for holding similar referendums to join Russia in the near future. No dates for them have been announced yet.