Moscow pledges ‘full protection’ to any areas annexed by Russia

The referendums in four eastern Ukrainian regions, aimed at annexing territory Russia has taken by force since its invasion in February, were being staged for a third day on Sunday and the Russian parliament could move to formalise the annexation within days.

The Russian annexations raise the risk of a direct military confrontation between Russia and the Nato-military alliance as western arms are being used by Ukrainian troops.

Multiple reports have also documented how people with no military service have been issued draft papers — contrary to defence minister Sergei Shoigu’s guarantee that only those with special military skills or combat experience would be called up — prompting even ultra-loyal pro-Kremlin figures to publicly express concern.

‚Mr Lavrov said told a news conference after his speech that the regions where votes are under way would be under Moscow’s “full protection” if they are annexed by Russia.

Asked if Russia would have grounds for using nuclear weapons to defend the annexed regions, Mr Lavrov said Russian territory, including territory “further enshrined” in Russia’s constitution in the future, “is under the full protection of the state”.

The territory controlled by Russian or Russian-backed forces in the four regions represents about 15 per cent of Ukrainian territory.

Adding Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, Russia would have gained an area about the size of the US state of Pennsylvania.

However, Russia does not fully control any of the four regions, with only around 60 per cent of Donetsk region controlled by Russian or Russian-backed forces.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday his country would regain all the territory Russia had taken.

Ukraine and Russia traded accusations on Sunday of attacks on civilians, with Ukraine's military saying that Russian forces had launched dozens of missile attacks and air strikes on military and civilian targets in the past 24 hours.