Ukraine strengthens hold on liberated lands, separatist calls for urgent referendum

A woman looks at a destroyed Russian armoured fighting vehicle as she rests on a bench in the town of Balakliia, recently liberated by the Ukrainian Armed Forces during a counteroffensive operation, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv region, Ukraine September 18, 2022. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova

IZIUM (Reuters) -Ukraine extended its hold on recently recaptured territory on Monday as troops marched farther east into areas abandoned by Russia, paving the way for a potential assault on occupation forces in the Donbas region.

In a sign of nervousness from a Moscow-backed administration in Donbas about the success of Ukraine's offensive, its leader called for urgent referendums on the region becoming part of Russia.