Referendum to Be Held in Melitopol on Joining Russia, Says Mayor

The head of the military-civilian administration of Melitopol (Editor: in the Zaporizhia region of Ukraine), Galina Danilchenko, has announced preparations for a referendum on joining Russia, according to RIA Novosti.

The mayor made this announcement following a visit by Sergey Kiriyenko, the first deputy head of the Russian presidential administration. “We know that our future is with Russia... and we are now beginning to prepare for the referendum,” she stated.

Danilchenko expressed gratitude to Kiriyenko for his kind words about the city. Melitopol has effectively become the temporary capital of the Zaporizhia region, announced Vladimir Rogov, a member of the regional military-civilian administration's main council.