Luhansk Regional Council on Monday demanded immediate federalization of Ukraine.

"An absolute majority of people voted [at a regional referendum on Sunday] for the right to make their own decisions about how to live. This right means that Ukraine can move over to a federated state structure. For this reason, we demand that the current central government hear the will expressed by the people and immediately, as an act of emergency, make changes to the Constitution that would launch a process of federalization," the council presidium said in a statement.

It said federalization is the only way and the last chance to save Ukraine as a single country. "Otherwise, it is the central government alone that will be accountable for the disintegration of the country," the presidium said.

It demanded immediately giving the Russian language the status of an official language.

The presidium also insisted on an immediate end to the Ukrainian military operation against the pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Ukraine, an operation that, "effectively means forcible suppression of protests."

The presidium demanded an amnesty for anti-Kyiv protesters in the east of the country.