Enlarge image
A Russian soldier guards an area of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in an area under Russian military control
Photo: AP / dpa
For almost a year, Russian troops have been fighting in Ukraine in violation of international law, and the occupiers have annexed several areas.
Now the Russian-occupied part of the southern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhia has officially given the go-ahead for a referendum on accession to Russia.
"I sign a decree to the Central Electoral Commission to start and prepare a referendum on the unification of the Zaporizhia Oblast with the Russian Federation," said the region's governor, Evgeny Balitsky, who was installed by the Russian troops, according to the state agency Ria Novosti.
Balizkis spoke at the »We are together with Russia« forum organized by the occupying forces in Melitopol – the region's second largest city with around 150,000 inhabitants.
The regional capital, Zaporizhia, with around 700,000 inhabitants, is still under Kyiv's control.
It is unclear how such a vote, which Ukraine would not recognize, will be organized.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already warned that referendums organized by the occupying forces would end all chances of peace talks with Russia.
Date for referendum still unclear
Balizki did not give a specific date for the planned vote.
In the past, the beginning of September was discussed as a possible period.
Balizki himself is from Ukraine and moved to the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia, in 2018.
In the wake of the ongoing Russian war of aggression, he moved back to Melitopol and was installed as military governor.
Fighting continues unabated in eastern Ukraine.
According to Zelenskyj, the fiercest fighting is raging in Donbass, where the situation remains difficult.
The Ukrainian President repeated his accusations against Russia for shelling the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
A "principled response from the world community" must follow, demanded Selenskyi.
The power plant came under fire again on Sunday.
Russia and Ukraine blame each other for the shelling.
mrc/dpa