Russian-backed separatists in Kherson say they will hold vote on joining Russia

Russian-installed officials in the Kherson region of Ukraine said they have decided to hold a referendum on joining Russia and have urged the Kremlin to give
its permission as soon as possible, the separatist head of the region said on Tuesday.
In a post on the Telegram messaging app, Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-appointed head of Kherson, said he hoped Kherson would become “a part of Russia, a fully-fledged subject of a united country.”
Russian forces control around 95% of Ukraine’s Kherson territory in the south of country.
Saldo did not name a date for the proposed vote.
Officials in parts of Ukraine controlled by Russian forces, including the two breakaway Russian-backed regions of the Donbas – the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) – have stepped up preparations for long-discussed votes to join Russia this week in a coordinated move.