Russia has sought to defend its seven-month old war at the United Nations, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying that regions of Ukraine where widely-derided referendums are being held would be under Russia\u2019s \u201cfull protection\u201d if annexed by Moscow.
\nThe referendums in four eastern Ukrainian regions, aimed at annexing territory Russia has taken by force since its invasion in February, entered their third day on Sunday and the Russian parliament could move to formalise the annexation within days.
\nUkraine and its Western allies have dismissed the referendums as a sham designed to justify an escalation of the war and a mobilisation drive by Moscow after recent battlefield losses.
\nPresident Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered Russia\u2019s first military mobilisation since World War Two, a move that triggered protests across the country and sent flocks of military-age men fleeing, causing tailbacks at borders and sold-out flights from the country.
\nRussia\u2019s two most senior lawmakers on Sunday addressed a string of complaints about the mobilisation, ordering regional officials to get a handle on the situation and swiftly solve the \u201cexcesses\u201d that have stoked public anger.
\nAddressing the UN General Assembly and the world\u2019s media in New York on Saturday, Lavrov attempted to justify Russia\u2019s invasion of its neighbour, repeating Moscow\u2019s false claims that the elected government in Kyiv was illegitimately installed and filled with neo-Nazis.
\nHe cast opposition to what Russia calls a \u201cspecial operation\u201d as limited to the United States and countries under its sway.
\nNearly three-quarters of states in the assembly voted to reprimand Russia and demand it withdraw its troops.
\nIn a news conference following his speech Lavrov said the regions where votes are underway would be under Moscow\u2019s \u201cfull protection\u201d if they are annexed by Russia.
\nAsked if Russia would have grounds for using nuclear weapons to defend the annexed regions, Lavrov said Russian territory, including territory \u201cfurther enshrined\u201d in Russia\u2019s constitution in the future, \u201cis under the full protection of the state\u201d.
\nUkraine\u2019s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said Russia\u2019s mentions of the possible use of nuclear weapons were \u201cabsolutely unacceptable\u201d and Kyiv would not give into them.
\nLooming annexation
\nThe Duma, Russia\u2019s lower house of parliament, may debate bills incorporating the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine into Russia on Thursday, the state-run TASS news agency said on Saturday, citing an unnamed source.
\nThe Interfax agency quoted a source saying the upper house could consider the bill the same day, and RIA Novosti, also citing an unnamed source, said Putin could be preparing to make a formal address to an extraordinary joint session of both houses on Friday.
\nThe votes on becoming part of Russia were hastily organised after Ukraine recaptured large swathes of the northeast in a counter-offensive this month.
\nUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the votes would be \u201cunequivocally condemned\u201d by the world. Russia says the referendums offer an opportunity for people in those regions to express their view.
\nUkraine and Russia traded accusations on Sunday of attacks on civilians, with Ukraine\u2019s military saying that Russian forces had launched dozens of missile attacks and air strikes on military and civilian targets in the past 24 hours.
\nRussia also used drones to attack the centre of the southern city of Odesa, Ukraine\u2019s military said. No casualties were reported.
\nRussia denies deliberately attacking civilians. Its RIA state news agency reported that Ukrainian forces bombed a hotel in the city of Kherson, killing two people.
\nRussian forces have occupied the southern city since the early days of the invasion on Feb. 24.
\nThere was no immediate response from Ukraine.
\nReuters could not verify either side\u2019s claims.
\nPutin\u2019s mobilisation drive has stirred unrest in Russia. More than 2,000 people have been detained across the country for protesting against the draft, including 798 people in 33 towns on Saturday, according to independent monitoring group OVD-Info.
\nWhen asked on Saturday why so many Russians were leaving the country, Lavrov pointed to the right of freedom of movement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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