Russia’s latest ammunition against Eastern Ukraine: annexation.
Russian officials and their collaborators will stage sham referendums in the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia from September 23 to 27 in an effort to make them part of Russia. “I think that people have long been waiting for a referendum here, and it will probably be a political move that will help ensure the safety of civilians,” claimed Denis Pushilin, head of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, which Russia recognizes as independent but the rest of the world acknowledges as part of Ukraine. At Moscow’s behest, Russian-installed officials in Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia followed Pushilin’s lead and also requested reforms.
Read more at “Russia Stages Referendums to Absorb Portions of Ukraine”