Why it matters: Decried by Ukrainian and Western officials as a "sham," the referendums are taking place from Friday through Tuesday in the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia and could lead to the annexation of nearly 15% of Ukraine.
What they're saying: At a news conference following his address to the UN General Assembly, Lavrov said that if the territories where the referendums are taking place are annexed by Russia they will be granted Russia's "full protection," Reuters reported.