Live updates: Russia’s war in Ukraine
There are several Kremlin-backed authorities in eastern and southern Ukraine. Announced the referendum. Joining Russia will be held this week.
While previous plans for such a vote have been delayed, there was a flurry of announcements from Russian-backed officials in the occupied territories of Ukraine on Tuesday – all set for a September 23-27 vote.
Kherson: Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-backed head of the Kherson administration, said “Signed a decree” for the referendum, which also established the procedure for organizing voting and “administrative and criminal liability measures for violation of these rules.” Parts of Kherson are on the front lines between Ukrainian and Russian forces.
Luhansk People’s Republic: Leonid Pasichnik, leader of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic, also signed An Act on Referendum. According to the text, “The Central Election Commission of the LPR shall determine the results of the referendum on the accession of the Republic to the LPR. Not after five daysafter the last voting day,” according to local media portal Lug-Info.
Donetsk People’s Republic: The self-proclaimed DPR agreed to hold the referendum and the chief said that he Wrote a letter Russian President Vladimir Putin called for the republic’s rapid accession to the Russian Federation after the referendum.
Zaporizhzhia: There is a so-called National Congress of Citizens of Zaporizhzhia Region. Approved the referendum., said Vladimir Rogov, a senior pro-Russian official in occupied Zaporizhia. “Technically, we are ready. The security of the polling stations is ensured. Our borders are reliably guarded by the Russian army,” said Yevgeniy Balitskiy, the Russian-appointed head of Zaporizhzhia’s regional administration.
Ukrainian answer: Ukrainian authorities have condemned these announcements. gave foreign Ministry He said the “fake referendum” would not change “Ukraine’s administrative-territorial structure and internationally recognized borders”. The ministry called the vote a “forced citizenship” of residents and said it was “another attempt by Russia to legitimize the results of its aggressive war against Ukraine.”
Russian answer: The declarations have been quickly supported by Russian politicians. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has publicly endorsed it. Referendums in the self-proclaimed Donbass Republic, saying it would be of “huge importance” for the “systemic protection” of its residents. “No future leader, no official of Russia will be able to reverse these decisions,” he added.
American response: The Pentagon said the announcements are “only . An information operation Its purpose is to divert attention from the predicament in which the Russian military currently finds itself. Also US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield Condemned Tricks on Tuesday.