STORY: The four Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine voted overwhelmingly in favor of joining Russia in what the government in Kyiv and Western countries have called “sham referendums.” The head of the self-declared “People’s Republic” of Donetsk, Denis Puschilin, appointed by Russia, presented an approval result of over 99 percent early on Wednesday morning. “And here it is – the colossal result. It would not be true to say that we did not expect such a result. I believed and believe in the Donbas. I believe in our people. We wanted this for so long. We have Dreamed about it in 2014 and then acted and made history. And so this is a historic day. We are reuniting with our great motherland, with great Russia.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the referenda as a “farce”. They could never be called legitimate votes, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video message. Ukraine will defend its population in the occupied regions. The United States wants to table a resolution in the United Nations Security Council. It should call on the member states not to recognize any changes in Ukraine and to oblige Russia to withdraw its troops. Russia said the referendums were conducted transparently and in compliance with electoral norms. It is expected that Russian President Vladimir Putin could declare parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions as Russian state territory as early as Friday. Then, in Moscow’s eyes, the Ukrainian offensive to recapture their territories would be an attack on Russia.
Sham referendum: praise and criticism for the results in Donbass
Watch the video: “Unite us with our motherland”: Separatists celebrate the result – Zelenskyj condemns the election as a “farce”