Russia-Ukraine war

The war in Ukraine: Russia started the referendum on the annexation of the occupied territories

Ukraine and its allies said they would not recognize the results of the vote, which ends on Tuesday.

The West estimates that the results will be falsified and after the referendum, Russia will officially annex the areas that make up 15% of Ukraine's territory.

An official in the Russian occupation administration in the Zaporizhia region: "We are coming home, friends"

news agencies

09/23/2022

Friday, September 23, 2022, 11:06 a.m. Updated: 11:30 a.m.

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On video: Ukraine regained control of territories in Kharkiv Oblast (Photo: Reuters)

Today (Friday) Russia started the referendum on the annexation of the four districts in Ukraine that were occupied: Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia.

The referendum will end on Tuesday and Russia is expected to use it to justify the annexation of the regions that make up 15% of Ukraine's territory.

An official in the Russian occupation administration in the Zaporizhia province said: "We are coming home, friends."

Officials in the Russian government announced that voting is mandatory, and those who do not cooperate will be punished.

Ukraine and its allies said they would not recognize the results of the vote, which Putin announced after seven months of fighting.

Through the results - which are expected to be in favor of the annexation, Russia will be able to justify the military escalation and the defense of the districts that will be recognized as its territory.

The West estimates that the voting results will be falsified and after that Russia will officially annex the territories.

"Those who don't vote will be punished."

Soldiers in the Ukrainian army in the city of Izium (Photo: Reuters)

Dmitry Medvedev, who served as president of Russia in 2008-2012, said that: "The invasion of Russian territory is a crime that will allow us to use all the forces of self-defense - and that is why the West fears the referendum."

The governor of the Luhansk region, Seri Gaidai, said that if Russia recognizes the territory of the districts as its declared territory - it will be able to claim that it is a direct attack on it, and hence it will be able to fight without reservation.

Yesterday, the independent Russian newspaper "Novaya Gazeta" reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to recruit a million people for the war in Ukraine.

Violent demonstrations have erupted across Russia in protest of the draft, and according to reports some 1,500 people have already been arrested by security forces.

At the same time, thousands of Russians are fleeing in panic from their homeland to the neighboring borders.

About 4,000 Russians arrived at the border with Finland this morning, the Finnish authorities reported.

The price of plane tickets outside of Russia has also skyrocketed and even sold out to certain destinations.

More in Walla!

Report: "Putin plans to recruit a million soldiers for the war in Ukraine"

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"The West will not recognize the results."

Mass grave in the city of Izium in Kharkiv district (photo: official website, Ukrainian Ministry of Defense)

In light of the situation, the UN Security Council met last night to discuss the war in Ukraine - and especially the Kremlin's official decision to mobilize 300,000 reserve troops and Russia's threat regarding the use of nuclear weapons. The foreign ministers of the United States and Russia participated in the meeting, along with the European members of the council

. Russian Sergei Lavrov said at the meeting that Russia is being unjustly attacked by Ukraine and its "Nazi" regime, as well as by the West through illegitimate sanctions. The foreign ministers of the United States and Great Britain strongly condemned Russia and the foreign minister and promised to continue supporting Ukraine's struggle to protect Anthony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, said that the countries in the council must send Putin a clear message that threats to use nuclear weapons must stop.

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