The parliament of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic has called for an immediate referendum on recognizing the region as a subject of the Russian Federation, which will put the separatist entity under Moscow’s nuclear umbrella, reports “Ukrainian Pravda” with reference to Russian news agencies.

Legislators of the puppet republic of Moscow called on Leonid Pasechinik, the leader of the separatist formation in Donbas, to hold a referendum to ensure a “return to peaceful life”. They also say that joining Russia will open up “new opportunities” for residents of the self-proclaimed republic.

At the same time, they expressed confidence that “the people of the republic will support the initiative.”

Their move comes after Pasechinik said last Thursday that the situation at the front was “very tense” following the collapse of Russian defense lines in the northern city of Kharkiv and the chaotic withdrawal of troops from there.

The enemy launched an offensive along the entire front. Practically today, they are on the borders of the LPR,” Pasechinik warned, however, assuring that “there is no reason to panic.”

Denys Pushylin, the leader of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, another pro-Russian separatist entity in eastern Ukraine, made similar comments last week.

Why pro-Russian separatists want an “emergency” alliance with Russia

Although the separatists do not directly mention it, annexation by Russia would place the organizations they lead under Moscow’s nuclear umbrella.

In June 2020, President Vladimir Putin approved an update to the document defining Russia’s nuclear doctrine and listing 4 situations in which Moscow could theoretically use nuclear weapons:

• obtaining reliable data on the launch of ballistic missiles on the territory of the Russian Federation and/or its allies;
• the enemy’s use of nuclear weapons and other types of weapons of mass destruction against the Russian Federation and (or) its allies;
• an enemy attack on critically important state or military facilities of the Russian Federation, the disorganization of which will lead to the undermining of the actions of the nuclear response forces;
• aggression against the Russian Federation using conventional weapons, when the very existence of the state is under threat.

Although the wording “the very existence of the state is at stake” may seem to exclude the use of nuclear weapons in the event of a conventional attack on Russia, Kremlin propaganda has for some time already begun to present the war against Ukraine as an existential one for the Russian state.

Even if the use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine in response to attacks by Ukrainians in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in the event of their incorporation into Russia seems unlikely, the separatists are likely counting on the deterrent effect of such an action.

Meduza investigative journalists wrote last week, citing several sources close to the Kremlin, that Vladimir Putin decided to indefinitely postpone the annexation of the conquered Ukrainian territories due to the loss of territories in Kharkiv.

Putin and his presidential administration would like Russian troops to occupy as much of Ukraine as possible before these referendums are held.

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