Tokyo was forced to activate Japan's missile alert system and order people to take shelter.
On September 30, 2022, Moscow formally announced four Ukrainian regions as Russian territory.
BBC said its international services needs to make savings of $31 million.
EU denounces the vote and results even as Kremlin-installed authorities say the ballots had gone Moscow's way.
A sweeping Ukrainian counter-offensive in recent weeks has seen Kyiv's forces retake hundreds of towns and villages.
