Though it is unclear if the final decision to go ahead with a vote has yet been taken,’’ the defence ministry in London said in its daily update.
“Russia has turned the entire Donetsk region into a dangerous hotspot for civilians as well. I call on everyone to evacuate.”
Ukraine provides 10 per cent of the world’s wheat, 14 per cent of the world’s corn, and 47 per cent of all sunflower oil on the planet.
“Yes, we are preparing for a referendum, and we will hold it,’’ the deputy head of Kherson’s military and civil administration.
Ukraine is halting transit of gas through Luhansk, one of its contested eastern regions, gas network operator OGTSU’s data showed on Wednesday.
The separatists and Russia said that Ukrainian forces were closing in on them and they were urging people to flee into Russia.
