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Posted by: Cornelia Stefoglu

News / International

23 Sep. 2022 / 08:24

Alleged referendums in four regions of Ukraine

Russia has opened the way for the official annexation of some areas of Ukrainian territory, supporting the referendum plans in the areas controlled by its soldiers, in a direct challenge to the West, which could lead to the sudden escalation of the war, reports Reuters, quoted by digi24.ro. NATO condemned Moscow's plans to organise referendums in regions occupied by Russia and called on all states to reject what it called "Russia's flagrant attempts at territorial conquest".

The self-proclaimed Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk (LPR) republics, which Putin recognized as independent even before the invasion, and Russian-installed officials in the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions have called for a vote in less than 24 hours.

Officials from Luhansk, Donetsk and Kherson said the referendums will take place in a few days - from Friday, September 23 to Monday, September 27.

Russia does not fully control any of the four regions.

Asked about the referendums, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: "From the beginning of the operation... we said that the peoples of the respective territories should decide their own destiny, and the whole current situation confirms that they want to be masters of their own destiny."

Dmitry Medvedev, who served as Russia's president from 2008 to 2012 and is now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, backed the referendums, which he said would change the course of Russian history and give the Kremlin more options for defending what he said would become Russian territory.

NATO condemned Moscow's plans to hold referendums in the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine and called on all states to reject what it called "Russia's flagrant attempts at territorial conquest", reports Reuters.

"Mock referendums in the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson in Ukraine have no legitimacy and will be a flagrant violation of the UN Charter," says a statement from the North Atlantic Council, which includes the member states of the Alliance.

"NATO allies will not recognize their illegal and illegitimate annexation. These territories are Ukraine," the quoted source added.

Referendums on joining Russia are due to take place from Friday to Tuesday in several regions mainly under Russian control in eastern and southern Ukraine, which make up about 15 percent of the country's territory.

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