Putin has partially mobilised troops in an escalation of the war in Ukraine - and insists he's 'not bluffing' over nuclear weapons
The Russian President insisted he was "not bluffing" as he warned his nation would "protect its sovereignty" in a rare televised address.
And he added: "To those who allow themselves such statements regarding Russia, I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction, and for separate components and more modern than those of Nato countries, and when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal.
The referendums will start on Friday in the Luhansk, Kherson and partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk areas.French president Emmanuel Macron says the votes would never be accepted by the international community. She said discussions will continue to seek a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine war but admitted Mr Putin's comments are a "worrying escalation".
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