G7 may punish countries that back Moscow's claims on Ukrainian regions, Washington warns; EU vows to 'never recognize' move; Italian far-right leader slams 'neo-imperialist' Putin

Russian leader signs treaties after referendum derided in West as sham, says residents of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are its 'citizens forever'

Putin to lead ceremony in Kremlin that will formally incorporate Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia areas into Russian territory, spokesperson says

Moscow-installed officials in occupied areas say they'll ask Putin to absorb them into Russia following votes that Israel and other Western countries have rejected

Russian proxies continue to hold breakaway polls, dismissed by Kyiv and its allies as a 'sham'

Separatist Donetsk leade calls referendum widely denounced as pretense 'a historical milestone'; vote clears way for Moscow to claim Ukrainian forces are attacking Russia itself

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev says ballot results in four regions controlled by Moscow would make new borders 'irreversible,' in move that could escalate fighting

Kyiv estimated to have seized 2,500 km² in eastern breakthrough, as Moscow claims forces 'regrouping' in Donetsk; Zelensky: Russian army doing 'the best it can — showing its back'

Several killed and medical facility damaged in weekend shelling of Ukrainian cities, say local authorities

Sitting on frontline between Russia and Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia plant has previously been damaged in fighting; iodine tablets distributed to residents in case of radiation leak