Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, accompanied by senior officials from his country, today visited the separatist region of Donbass in eastern Ukraine, asking separatist leaders to strengthen ties with Moscow.

This is the largest delegation that Moscow has sent to eastern Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24.

In a message he posted on Telegram, Medvedev states that he has “negotiated measures to be taken as a security priority for the ‘democracies’ of Donbass, at the behest of (Russian) President” Vladimir Putin.

“Particular attention was paid to harmonizing the legislation” of the separatist regions with Russian legislation, as well as repairing infrastructure and preparing schools for the start of the new school year, he added.

Dmitry Medvedev was accompanied, in particular, by one of Putin’s top advisers, Sergei Kiriyenko, Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, and head of the Federal Security Service (FSB), Alexander Bortnikov.

Medvedev, who served as president from 2008 to 2012 and then prime minister from 2012 to 2020, is currently vice president of the Russian Security Council.

Today he met with Lugansk separatist leader Leonid Pasetsnik and Donetsk separatist leader Denis Pushilin. Russia recognized the independence of the two “people’s republics”, which the international community did not do.

Medvedev’s visit comes at a time of growing concern that Moscow is preparing to annex much of Ukraine. Separatist authorities in eastern Ukraine are openly calling for their integration into the Russian Federation, while pro-Russian occupation administrations in southern Ukraine are preparing to hold referendums.