LIVE UPDATES: DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye, Kherson Regions Hold Referendums on Joining Russia

The Syrian Foreign Minister also said that it seems to him the United States and its allies want to "fight until the last Ukrainian."

The Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics as well as the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions are holding referenda on whether to join Russia. The areas have been largely secured by Russian forces during Moscow's special military operation in response to requests for help from the regions due to mistreatment by the Kiev regime.

"We obviously take these [Russian nuclear] threats very seriously, but we have not seen any reason to adjust our own nuclear posture at this time," Jean-Pierre said during a press briefing.

"No threats from the EU or other Western countries will change our determination to achieve all the goals and objectives of the Special Military Operation and ensure the protection of the Russian population," the statement says.

"We are prepared to impose additional swift and severe economic costs on Russia, along with our allies and partners, in response to these actions, if they move forward with annexation," Jean-Pierre said during a press briefing, adding that the United States will continue to provide Ukraine with security assistance.

Instead of helping to end the conflict in Ukraine, the European Union does not hide the desire to prolong the hostilities, despite the casualties and destruction, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Instead of helping to end the conflict, the European Union does not hide its desire to prolong the hostilities as much as possible, despite the casualties and destruction, to ensure 'victory on the battlefield,' to weaken our country with the help of illegitimate unilateral restrictions," the statement says.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that the EU's position was especially cynical, because through this previously peaceful integration association, in violation of not only international, but also its own rules for controlling the export of military technologies and equipment, the Kiev regime was being pumped up with lethal weapons.

She stressed that the accusations of Russia from the European Union were hypocritical, given how Brussels turned a blind eye to the transformation of Ukraine into a totalitarian state of the "Nazi type," where for many years basic human rights and freedoms had been violated, including to life, freedom of speech, access to information, freedom of expression of opinion, freedom of conscience, use of one's native language. In addition, there is a total mobilization of the entire adult population, including women, for recruitment into the ranks of the national battalions and the Ukrainian army.

Finland will restrict the transit of Russians with Schengen visas, as well as the entry of Russian tourists into the country, in the coming days, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said on Friday.

Since September 19, Finland has been the only EU country bordering Russia with a land border open to Russians. Earlier on Friday, the Finnish authorities announced that a decision in principle to ban tourism and transit from Russia had been made.

"Based on this decision, the movement of tourists will be stopped. Visas may be suspended or restricted, except for special groups, such as people visiting relatives. They [groups allowed to enter] will be detailed in the decision," Haavisto said at a briefing broadcast by the Finnish media.

The minister noted that the decision would come into force in the coming days.

"There is no exact date, but this is a tough decision. All tourist flows across the border will be blocked. This applies both to those who travel on Schengen visas previously issued by Finland, and to those who travel on Schengen visas issued by other countries," Haavisto said.

He noted that the preferential procedure for obtaining visas for property owners will be closed.

"Details of the decision are still being discussed. Visas can be issued for reasons such as family relationships, study and work. The loophole for property owners will be closed," Haavisto said.

The minister noted that a fundamental decision had been made, and all involved departments were urgently clarifying legal details.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed reports of alleged draft of more than 300,000 people as part of the partial mobilization.

Earlier, in a number of media and Telegram channels, there were reports that more than one million people were called.

"These are all fakes," Peskov told Sputnik.

A number of EU countries are going to propose to include ban on the use of the Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) products and restrict nuclear energy cooperation with Moscow in a new sanctions package against Russia, Bloomberg reported on Friday.

Poland, Ireland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania plan to introduce a ban on Russian LNG as part of new EU sanctions against Russia, as well as put restrictions on nuclear energy cooperation, according to a document obtained by the news agency.

Another measures that could possibly be proposed by this group of EU countries include a ban on transfer of US dollar banknotes to Russia and stricter control over transactions of crypto assets, Bloomberg wrote.

On Tuesday, the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luпansk (DPR and LPR), as well as the Russian-controlled parts of the Ukrainian regions of Zaporozhye and Kherson, said that they would hold referendums on accession to Russia from September 23-27.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced his support for referenda, causing a backlash from the Western countries. In particular, on Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced that the bloc would impose new sanctions on Russia's leadership and people involved in organizing referenda.

The DPR and LPR proclaimed their independence from Ukraine in 2014 after holding self-determination referendums. In February 2022, Russia recognized the DPR and LPR and launched a military operation in Ukraine in response to calls for help from the two breakaway republics.

According to police, about 50,000 people took part in the rally in central Moscow.