LIVE UPDATES: Voters in Lugansk, Kherson & Zaporozhye Support Accession, Early Results Show

Voting was held in observation of the principles of openness and publicity - at all the polling stations there were people who observed the process - public and international observers, representatives of mass media.

"The answer to this question will depend on many circumstances, primarily on weather conditions. The most difficult winter month will be January, when consumption peaks steadily exceed 1.8 billion cubic meters per day," the statement read. "The capacities of European UGS facilities have historically had the potential to cover these peaks, but will they be able to cope with this task, given the fall in pipeline gas supplies from Russia due to the fault of the Europeans themselves?"

"Russia has the right to use nuclear weapons if necessary, in predetermined cases, in strict accordance with the Fundamentals of State Policy in the Field of Nuclear Deterrence if we or our allies are attacked with this type of weapon. Or if aggression with the use of conventional weapons threatens our very existence. The President of Russia reaffirmed recently. In addition, we will do everything to prevent our hostile neighbors from getting nuclear weapons. For example, Nazi Ukraine, which is directly controlled today by NATO countries," deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council and ex-president said.