The head of the military-civil administration of Zaporizhia announced that the authorities of the region wish to hold a referendum on joining Russia on September 11. Balitsky stated in an interview with the Russian newspaper "Izvestia": "We will hold a referendum on joining Russia on September 11 in one day." He added: "Legally, we are not part of Russia, but of course we would like and love for that to happen very much."