Rebels appeal to join Russia after self-rule referendum

Pro-Moscow rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine called for their region to become part of Russia, the day after staging a referendum on self-rule, although Moscow stopped short of endorsing their bid for annexation.

Announcing the result of the vote in one of the two provinces where it was held, a leader of the “People’s Republic of Donetsk”, Denis Pushilin, said it was now an independent state and would appeal to join the Russian Federation.

“The people of Donetsk have always been part of the Russian world. For us, the history of Russia is our history,” he said.