Pro-Russia leaders plan to ask Putin to annex Ukraine's Kherson

PanARMENIAN.Net - The leaders of the Russian-occupied region of Kherson in southeastern Ukraine said they plan to ask for the area to become a part of Russia, Russian media reported, citing an official.

"There will be a request to make Kherson region a full subject of the Russian Federation," said Kirill Stremousov, an official from the region's Moscow-controlled administration, Deutsche Welle reports.

The appeal will be made to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Stremousov said. Although he did not say when the request will be made.

Russia claimed full control over the Kherson region in April. The area is of strategic importance to Russia, as it provides part of a land connection between Crimea and Russian-backed separatists in areas of eastern Ukraine.