Kathmandu, May 12  

The Kremlin's spokesman said on wednesday that Russia was open to annexing Ukraine's Southern region of Kherson .

Such statement from Kremlin's spokesman came only after Russian backed officals also said that  "Kherson is Russia, there will be no Kherson people's Repoublic, there will be no referendums, there will be one decree based on our appeal to Vladimir Putin and there will be a request to introduce region into the Russian federation".

kherson was the first major city captured by the Russian forces during the Southern Ukraine offensive. As of 12 May 2022, Kherson is the only capital city of one of Ukraine's provinces to have fallen during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Kherson is a strategically important city, and vital port on the black sea and on the Dneper river. For Russia, Kherson's transport links are important to its war effort and for control over Crimea.