Preparations for a referendum in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region on joining Russia have begun and the process will take several months, Russian media reported on Wednesday citing Vladimir Rogov, a pro-Moscow member of the chief council of the civil-military administration of the region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Zaporizhzhia region last week. He told a news conference on Monday that "the most threatening situation" has developed in Zaporizhzhia, some of which has been taken by Russia.

The region, which has a population of 1.6 million, is one of the biggest industrial hubs of Ukraine’s southeast.