Kherson region's resistance doesn't let russia hold pseudo-referendum – Ukraine's intelligence
The Armed Forces of Ukraine and the resisting local population don't give the russians the opportunity to hold a pseudo-referendum.
The press service of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense reported that, citing Andrii Yusov, the defense intelligence official, on Telegram.
"Of course, they can announce some action, but the essence of the pseudo-referendum is, after all, an imitation of some process legitimacy. Thus, neither the Armed Forces of Ukraine nor society as a whole give the russians the opportunity to imitate this process. And, of course, the world will immediately reject even the very attempt of such a referendum; it will not be serious. I think that the occupiers understand the futility of even trying to take the so-called referendums seriously," said the representative of military intelligence.
On September 6, the chair of Ukraine's Central Election Commission, Oleh Didenko, stated that any pseudo-referendums held by the russian invaders in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine are illegal, and sanctions should be applied against the persons involved in their organization.
As Rubryka reported, the United States is convinced that Moscow's proteges will hold sham referenda to annex part of Ukraine. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the US "must and we will act quickly to make clear to russia that these tactics will not work."
"russia installed leaders will hold sham referendums to manufacture the fiction that the people in those places want to join russia. Then they'll use those false votes to claim that the annexation of these regions is legitimate," Blinken said at a news conference at the US State Department in Washington, DC.
Bloomberg also reported, citing its sources, that russia plans to annex occupied Ukrainian lands in mid-September. The invaders are preparing so-called referendums on joining the russian federation.
"Officials are preparing to organize votes in areas currently controlled by the Russian military and any others its troops are able to seize in coming weeks, three people said. The goal is to conduct referendums on joining Russia by Sept. 15, two of the people said, asking not to be identified because the issue is sensitive," the publication emphasizes.
The UK Ministry of Defense said in one of its latest intelligence updates on the situation in Ukraine that russian-backed officials plan to hold a referendum on the Kherson region joining russia by autumn 2022.
"Russian-backed officials have said they will hold a referendum on Kherson Oblast joining the Russian Federation by autumn 2022. Russia is likely prioritizing a pseudo-constitutional vote in an attempt to legitimize its control of the region," the ministry said.
Read Rubryka's timeline of war: current news on Ukraine's defense against russia's aggression.
