Russian-installed leaders

in occupied areas of four Ukrainian regions set out plans for referendums on joining Russia this week. The so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, announced they will hold their votes between Sept. 23-27. The four regions represent around 15% of Ukrainian territory or an area about the size of Hungary or Portugal.

^{via Reuters}

• What it means: Russian officials said referendums will give Moscow a claim to territory that it could defend with any means possible. Ukraine dismissed the move as a stunt by Russia to try to reclaim the initiative after crushing losses on the battlefield.
• Furthermore: Russia’s Kremlin-controlled lower house of parliament approved legislation that toughens punishment for soldiers breaching their duties. Under the new legislation, desertion, surrendering, and refusing to go to combat or following an officer’s order could lead to a prison term of up to 10 years.