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== Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics ==
== Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics ==
{{See also|Russian occupation of Donetsk Oblast|Russian occupation of Luhansk Oblast}}
{{See also|Russian occupation of Donetsk Oblast|Russian occupation of Luhansk Oblast}}
{{Infobox multichoice referendum
| title = Are you in favor of the entry of the Donetsk People's Republic into the Russian Federation as a subject of the Russian Federation?<ref name="respc">{{Cite web |date=27 September 2022 |title=Итоги референдумов в ЛНР, ДНР, Запорожской и Херсонской областях |url=https://ria.ru/20220927/referendum-1818721567.html?in=t |access-date=27 September 2022 |website=[[RIA Novosti]] |language=ru}}</ref>
| location = Russian-occupied parts of [[Donetsk Oblast]]
| date = 23–27 September 2022
| part1_choice1 = Yes
| part1_percentage1 = 99.23
| part1_choice2 = No
| part1_percentage2 = 0.62
| part1_choice3 = Invalid ballots
| part1_percentage3 = 0.15
| part1_caption = Reported [[voter turnout]]: 97.51%<ref name="respc"/>
|name=Referendum on the entry of the Donetsk People's Republic into Russia}}
{{Infobox multichoice referendum
| title = Are you in favor of the entry of the Luhansk People's Republic into the Russian Federation as a subject of the Russian Federation?<ref name="respc"/><ref>https://iz.ru/1398250/2022-09-20/v-lnr-oboznachili-formulirovku-voprosa-kotoryi-vynesut-na-referendum МИР
СЮЖЕТ: РЕФЕРЕНДУМЫ НА ОСВОБОЖДЕННЫХ ТЕРРИТОРИЯХ
В ЛНР обозначили формулировку вопроса, который вынесут на референдум</ref>
| location = Russian-occupied parts of [[Luhansk Oblast]]
| date = 23–27 September 2022
| part1_choice1 = Yes
| part1_percentage1 = 98.42
| part1_choice2 = No
| part1_percentage2 = 1
| part1_choice3 = Invalid ballots
| part1_percentage3 = 0.58
| part1_caption = Reported [[voter turnout]]: 92.6%<ref name="respc"/>
|name=Referendum on the entry of the Luhansk People's Republic into Russia}}
The Russian-led militants of the [[Donetsk People's Republic]] and the [[Luhansk People's Republic]] declared independence from Ukraine in 2014.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Shaun|last1=Walker|first2=Oksana|last2=Grytsenko|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/12/ukraine-crisis-donetsk-region-asks-join-russia|title=Donetsk region asks to join Russia|date=12 May 2014|work=The Guardian|access-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512224835/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/12/ukraine-crisis-donetsk-region-asks-join-russia|archive-date=12 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/12/luhanks-independence-ukraine_n_5310502.html|title=Separatists Declare Independence Of Luhansk Region|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=22 September 2022|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129031449/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/12/luhanks-independence-ukraine_n_5310502.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Pro-Russian separatists held discredited [[2014 Donbas status referendums|independence referendums]] in May 2014.<ref name="itartassapril7">{{cite news|url=http://tass.ru/en/world/726779|title=Regional legislators proclaim industrial center Donetsk People's Republic|date=7 April 2014|access-date=7 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408213918/http://en.itar-tass.com/world/726779|archive-date=8 April 2014|agency=[[TASS]]}}</ref> After invading Ukraine in February 2022, Russia started preparations to hold referendums in occupied parts of [[Russian occupation of Donetsk Oblast|Donetsk]] and [[Russian occupation of Luhansk Oblast|Luhansk]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Russia Moves to Annex Occupied Ukrainian Land by September |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-21/russia-moves-to-annex-occupied-ukrainian-land-by-september |access-date=28 August 2022 |website=www.bloomberg.com}}</ref>
The Russian-led militants of the [[Donetsk People's Republic]] and the [[Luhansk People's Republic]] declared independence from Ukraine in 2014.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Shaun|last1=Walker|first2=Oksana|last2=Grytsenko|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/12/ukraine-crisis-donetsk-region-asks-join-russia|title=Donetsk region asks to join Russia|date=12 May 2014|work=The Guardian|access-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512224835/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/12/ukraine-crisis-donetsk-region-asks-join-russia|archive-date=12 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/12/luhanks-independence-ukraine_n_5310502.html|title=Separatists Declare Independence Of Luhansk Region|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=22 September 2022|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129031449/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/12/luhanks-independence-ukraine_n_5310502.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Pro-Russian separatists held discredited [[2014 Donbas status referendums|independence referendums]] in May 2014.<ref name="itartassapril7">{{cite news|url=http://tass.ru/en/world/726779|title=Regional legislators proclaim industrial center Donetsk People's Republic|date=7 April 2014|access-date=7 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408213918/http://en.itar-tass.com/world/726779|archive-date=8 April 2014|agency=[[TASS]]}}</ref> After invading Ukraine in February 2022, Russia started preparations to hold referendums in occupied parts of [[Russian occupation of Donetsk Oblast|Donetsk]] and [[Russian occupation of Luhansk Oblast|Luhansk]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Russia Moves to Annex Occupied Ukrainian Land by September |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-21/russia-moves-to-annex-occupied-ukrainian-land-by-september |access-date=28 August 2022 |website=www.bloomberg.com}}</ref>


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== Kherson Oblast==
== Kherson Oblast==
{{See also|Russian occupation of Kherson Oblast}}
{{See also|Russian occupation of Kherson Oblast}}
{{Infobox multichoice referendum
| name = Referendum on the entry of the Kherson Oblast into Russia
| title = Are you in favour of the secession of the Kherson Oblast from Ukraine, the formation of an independent state by the Kherson Oblast and its entry into the Russian Federation as a Subject of the Russian Federation?<ref name=":4"/><ref name="ismi1">{{Cite news |date=23 September 2022 |title=Референдумы в ДНР и ЛНР и ход военного конфликта |work=[[inoSMI]] |url=https://inosmi.ru/20220923/referendum-256299064.html |access-date=25 September 2022 |lang=ru}}</ref>
| location = Russian-occupied parts of [[Kherson Oblast]]
| date = 23–27 September 2022
| part1_choice1 = Yes
| part1_percentage1 = 87.05
| part1_choice2 = No
| part1_percentage2 = 12.05
| part1_choice3 = Invalid ballots
| part1_percentage3 = 0.9
| part1_caption = Reported [[voter turnout]]: 76.86%<ref name="resk">{{Cite web |url=https://aif.ru/politics/russia/v_hersonskoy_oblasti_vhozhdenie_v_sostav_rf_podderzhali_87_05_izbirateley |title=В Херсонской области вхождение в состав РФ поддержали 87,05% избирателей |date=27 September 2022 |accessdate=27 September 2022 |work=[[Argumenty i Fakty]] |lang=ru}}</ref><ref name="respc"/>
}}


The Russian military occupation of [[Kherson Oblast]] began on 3 March 2022, when its capital city was captured by the Russian military after the six-day [[Battle of Kherson]].<ref name=":9">{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Lee |date=3 March 2022 |title=Ukrainian city of Kherson captured as Russia vows to fight to ‘the end’ |work=[[New York Post]] |url=https://nypost.com/2022/03/03/kherson-becomes-first-ukrainian-city-to-fall-to-russia/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928120020/https://nypost.com/2022/03/03/kherson-becomes-first-ukrainian-city-to-fall-to-russia/ |archive-date=28 September 2022}}</ref>
The Russian military occupation of [[Kherson Oblast]] began on 3 March 2022, when its capital city was captured by the Russian military after the six-day [[Battle of Kherson]].<ref name=":9">{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Lee |date=3 March 2022 |title=Ukrainian city of Kherson captured as Russia vows to fight to ‘the end’ |work=[[New York Post]] |url=https://nypost.com/2022/03/03/kherson-becomes-first-ukrainian-city-to-fall-to-russia/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928120020/https://nypost.com/2022/03/03/kherson-becomes-first-ukrainian-city-to-fall-to-russia/ |archive-date=28 September 2022}}</ref>
Line 122: Line 83:


== Zaporizhzhia Oblast ==
== Zaporizhzhia Oblast ==
{{See also|Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast}}The Russian military occupation of [[Zaporizhzhia Oblast]] began on 27 February 2022, when the port city of [[Berdiansk]] was captured by the Russian military after a three-day battle.<ref name=":10" />{{Infobox multichoice referendum
{{See also|Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast}}The Russian military occupation of [[Zaporizhzhia Oblast]] began on 27 February 2022, when the port city of [[Berdiansk]] was captured by the Russian military after a three-day battle.<ref name=":10" />
| name = Referendum on the entry of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast into Russia
| title = Are you in favour of secession of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast from Ukraine, formation of an independent state by the Zaporizhzhia Oblast and its entry into the Russian Federation as a Subject of the Russian Federation?<ref name=":4"/><ref name="ismi1"/>
| location = Russian-occupied parts of [[Zaporizhzhia Oblast]]
| date = 23–27 September 2022
| part1_choice1 = Yes
| part1_percentage1 = 93.11
| part1_choice2 = No
| part1_percentage2 = 6.89
| part1_caption = Reported [[voter turnout]]: 85.4%<ref name="respc"/>
}}


In July 2022, [[Yevgeny Balitsky]], the Russian-installed Mayor of [[Melitopol]] and the head of the [[Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast|military-civilian administration]] of the oblast, signed an order for the Central Election Commission of Zaporizhzhia to begin investigating the possibility of a referendum for the region to join the Russian Federation.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://english.pravda.ru/news/world/153503-zaporizhzhia_russia/ | title=Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions of Ukraine to hold 'join' Russia votes first. Others will follow | date=8 August 2022 }}</ref>
In July 2022, [[Yevgeny Balitsky]], the Russian-installed Mayor of [[Melitopol]] and the head of the [[Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast|military-civilian administration]] of the oblast, signed an order for the Central Election Commission of Zaporizhzhia to begin investigating the possibility of a referendum for the region to join the Russian Federation.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://english.pravda.ru/news/world/153503-zaporizhzhia_russia/ | title=Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions of Ukraine to hold 'join' Russia votes first. Others will follow | date=8 August 2022 }}</ref>

Revision as of 14:16, 28 September 2022

Decrees on the conducting of the referendums in the Donetsk People's Republic (left) and Luhansk People's Republic (right)

In late September 2022, Russian-installed officials in Ukraine[1] organized referendums on annexation of occupied territories of Ukraine,[2][3][4] which are largely seen as sham referendums by commentators and have been widely criticised by various countries. These hastily arranged votes were conducted in four areas of Ukraine – the breakaway Russian puppet states of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, as well as the Russian-appointed military administrations of Kherson Oblast and Zaporizhzhia Oblast, captured and occupied in the first week of the 2022 invasion[5][6] – as well as in Russia.[1] Russia does not fully control any of the four regions, where military hostilities are ongoing, and much of the population has fled since the beginning of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[7] In the Donetsk Oblast region, 99.23% voted in favour of joining the Russian Federation, with a 97.51% voter turnout.[8] The referendums are deemed by the UN to have been organized in violation of the UN Charter and illegal under international law.

Background

See also: War in Donbas (2014–2022) and Revanchism § Russia
Russian control of Ukraine as of September 2022

Under the conditions of complete dominance of Russian media, the residents of the DPR and the LPR were promised the inclusion of these regions into Russia, as with Crimea. As the director of the Donetsk Institute for Social Research and Political Analysis suggested in 2014, it had been decided to refuse accession referendums due to low support for joining Russia: only 35% supported it, while 65% saw themselves as part of Ukraine.[9] In Russia, a 2015 poll by the Levada Center showed that only 19% of polled Russians wanted eastern Ukraine to become part of Russia.[10]

In the context of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russian officials spoke about joining even before the deployment of troops: on 21 February, during a meeting of the Security Council of Russia, Sergey Naryshkin mixed up the topic of conversation and directly supported their entry into the Russian Federation.[11] The reservation gave rise to many rumors about the reality of this plan. Later, the heads of the DPR and LPR Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik announced plans to hold referendums, but with the proviso that voting would be held after the end of the war.[12][13]

On 9 June, on the 350th anniversary of the birth of Peter the Great, Russian president Vladimir Putin described the land that had been conquered by Peter in the Great Northern War against Sweden as land being returned to Russia. He also compared the task facing Russia today to that of Peter's.[14]

In the Kherson Oblast, rumours about the creation of the "Kherson People's Republic" or annexation appeared immediately after the occupation. Kherson residents responded with rallies under the slogan “Kherson Is Ukraine”, which were repressed, with protestors being kidnapped. Local journalist Oleg Baturin, a victim of such a kidnapping, spoke about the use of torture and humiliation against him.[15] The occupying authorities of the Kharkiv Oblast ruled out a formal vote until Russia occupied the entire region. The Russian military-appointed authorities of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast in August signed a decree on preparations for the referendum. However, the decision to hold referendums is not under the jurisdiction of local authorities, but under the administration of the president of Russia.[16]

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that holding referendums in the occupied territories would eliminate the possibility for negotiations for Russia.[16] Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk added that the participation of Ukrainian citizens in these elections would be regarded as collaborationism, which is punishable by imprisonment for up to 12 years with confiscation of property.[17]

According to Ukrainian intelligence, before the Ukrainian counteroffensive, Russia planned to hold a referendum in Kharkiv Oblast in November, with a planned 75% vote in favour.[18][19]

In parallel, on 21 September, Vladimir Putin announced mobilization in Russia, which indicated the desire of the Russian leadership to further escalate the war with Ukraine.

Organization

Sergey Kiriyenko (left) became Putin's point man in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.[20]

The preparation of referendums and the formation of a new image of Russia after the annexation of Ukrainian territories were entrusted to the first deputy head of the presidential administration, Sergey Kiriyenko. Under his leadership, an image was formulated for an external audience – Russia as a "continent of freedom" for supporters of right-wing ideologies from all over the world.[21]

As Meduza reported, the organization of the referendums was handled by the Russian State Council’s Administration for Ensuring Affairs under the leadership of Alexander Kharichev, a close associate of Kiriyenko. The voting was directly supervised by Kharichev's deputy Boris Rappoport, who is considered a crisis manager and specializes in problematic election campaigns, and since 2014, together with Vladislav Surkov, he has been involved in the affairs of the DPR and LPR. The chief technologist and coordinator of the referendums was the vice-governor of Sevastopol, Sergei Tolmachev.[22]

Rappoport also selected employees and political technologists with experience in working with the opposition for the role of "political instructors" in the occupation administrations. As Meduza's sources noted, despite salaries of up to 1–2 million rubles a month, few people were ready to go to the occupied territories.[22] and key positions in the governments of the DPR and LPR were appointed in preparation for the referendums by an official of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vitaliy Khotsenko, and a former vice-governor of the Kurgan Oblast, Vladislav Kuznetsov. According to the interlocutor of the publication, the Russian authorities planned to soon remove Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik and replace them with completely controlled functionaries.[23]

According to Meduza, the Russian authorities planned to hold referendums under the slogan “Together with Russia” (it appeared in the campaign in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and a forum of the same name was held in Kherson). The alternative slogan "New Russia", which implied a "new quality" and a stronger Russia, did not please Vladimir Putin and members of the Security Council.[22] The IMA-Consulting group, associated with the first deputy head of the presidential administration, Alexey Gromov, was responsible for the campaign preparations for the referendums.[24][25][26]

Russian official Alexander Malkevich of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation claimed that over 100 "international observers" from 40 countries are present at the referendums,[27] after Ukrainian intelligence sources had warned that Russian special services had been recruiting foreigners, who would face criminal liability.[28] No observers from international organizations such as the OSCE or Council of Europe were present.[29] A German manager praised the sham referendum on Russian media, and as a result was sacked and found himself under criminal investigation in Ukraine for aiding a war of aggression.[29]

Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics

See also: Russian occupation of Donetsk Oblast and Russian occupation of Luhansk Oblast

The Russian-led militants of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic declared independence from Ukraine in 2014.[30][31] Pro-Russian separatists held discredited independence referendums in May 2014.[32] After invading Ukraine in February 2022, Russia started preparations to hold referendums in occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk.[33]

On 19 September, the public chambers of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics appealed to their heads of state with a request to "immediately" hold a referendum on joining Russia.[34][35][36] Soon, the State Duma announced that a referendum on the accession of the LPR to Russia would be held in the autumn "in the near future."[37][38]

On 20 September, the People's Council of the Luhansk People's Republic scheduled a referendum on the republic's entry into Russia as a federal subject for 23–27 September.[39] Soon after, the People's Council of the Donetsk People's Republic announced that the referendum on the entry of the DPR into the Russian Federation would be held on the same date.[40]

Questions

In the Donetsk People's Republic, the referendum question was phrased as Вы за вхождение Донецкой Народной Республики в состав Российской Федерации на правах субъекта Российской Федерации? ("Do you approve of the Donetsk People's Republic being incorporated into the Russian Federation with subject rights of the Russian Federation?"). The same wording, with only the name of the republic changed, was used on the ballots issued across the Luhansk People's Republic: Вы за вхождение Луганской Народной Республики в состав Российской Федерации на правах субъекта Российской Федерации? ("Do you approve of the Luhansk People's Republic being incorporated into the Russian Federation with subject rights of the Russian Federation?").[41] Since neither entity recognizes the status of Ukrainian as an administrative language of any kind, the text on the ballots was printed exclusively in Russian.

Results

According to the results released by the Russian Central Election Commission through its sections in the DPR and LPR, 99.23% supported the annexation in Donetsk and 98.42% in Luhansk. The turnouts were 97.51% and 92.6%, respectively.[42][clarification needed]

After these figures were released, Leonid Pasechnik, the Head of the Luhansk People's Republic, said that he plans on visiting Moscow to request the admission of Luhansk into the Russian Federation.[43]

Kherson Oblast

See also: Russian occupation of Kherson Oblast

The Russian military occupation of Kherson Oblast began on 3 March 2022, when its capital city was captured by the Russian military after the six-day Battle of Kherson.[5]

On 12 March, Ukrainian officials claimed that Russia was planning to stage a referendum in Kherson to establish the Kherson People's Republic, similar to the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic. Serhii Khlan, deputy leader of the Kherson Oblast Council, claimed that the Russian military had called all the members of the council and asked them to cooperate.[44] Lyudmyla Denisova, Ombudsman of Ukraine, stated that the referendum would be illegal because "under Ukrainian law any issues over territory can only be resolved by a nationwide referendum".[45] Later that day, the Kherson Oblast Council passed a resolution stating that the proposed referendum would be illegal.[46]

On 11 May 2022, Kirill Stremousov, a deputy head of the Kherson military–civilian administration, announced his readiness to send President Vladimir Putin with a request for Kherson Oblast to join the Russian Federation, noting that there would be no creation of the "Kherson People's Republic" or referendums regarding this matter.[47] Commenting on these statements, Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that this issue should be decided by the inhabitants of the region and that "these fateful decisions must have an absolutely clear legal background, legal justification, be absolutely legitimate, as was the case with Crimea".[48]

In June 2022, Stremousov, in a video message on the Telegram channel, said that the Kherson region began to prepare for a referendum on joining Russia.[49] The referendum was going to be prepared by the pro-Putin United Russia party, but members fled the region towards the end of July after Ukrainian forces shelled the Antonivka Road Bridge.[50] Authorities in the occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast region have not ruled out the possibility of a joint referendum.[51][52]

On 5 September, Stremousov announced that the referendum in Kherson Oblast had been postponed due to "security reasons."[53]

On 7 September, Andrey Turchak, secretary-general of the United Russia party, stated that it "would be right and symbolic" to hold the referendums in Russian-occupied Ukraine on 4 November, Russia's Unity Day; Stremousov stated that preparations would be made for this date, "even if we are ready for this referendum to take place right now".[54]

On 20 September, Head of the Kherson Oblast Military–Civilian Administration Volodymyr Saldo announced that the referendum on the entry of the Kherson Oblast into Russia would be held from 23–27 September.[55]

Question

The text printed on the ballots is bilingual, with Ukrainian alongside Russian:[41][56]

Do you approve of having Kherson Oblast exit Ukraine, reforming Kherson Oblast into a self-governing state as well as incorporating it into the Russian Federation with subject rights of the Russian Federation?

Result

According to the figures released by the Kherson regional section of the Russian Central Election Commission, 87.05% (497,051) supported the annexation to the Russian Federation, with 12.05% against and 0.9% of ballots invalid, on a turnout of 76.86%.[57][42]


Zaporizhzhia Oblast

See also: Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast

The Russian military occupation of Zaporizhzhia Oblast began on 27 February 2022, when the port city of Berdiansk was captured by the Russian military after a three-day battle.[6]

In July 2022, Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russian-installed Mayor of Melitopol and the head of the military-civilian administration of the oblast, signed an order for the Central Election Commission of Zaporizhzhia to begin investigating the possibility of a referendum for the region to join the Russian Federation.[58]

On 8 August 2022, he signed an order on the preparation of the organization of the referendum. This decision was unanimously supported by 1500 delegates of the forum of the movement “We are Together with Russia”, which was held on the same day in Melitopol.[59] This was endorsed by the military-civilian administration.[60] The date of the referendum on the entry of the Zaporizhzhia region into Russia will be determined "as soon as its security and freedom of expression are guaranteed," Vladimir Rogov, a member of the main council of the regional administration, told the media.[61]

On 11 August 2022, authorities in the occupied region expressed their desire to hold the referendum on 11 September 2022.[51][62]

On 26 August 2022, the Electoral Commission for the preparation of a referendum in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast began work.[63]

On 22 September, The Head of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military–Civilian Administration, Evgeny Balitsky, announced that the referendum on the entry of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast into Russia will be held from 23–27 September[55]

On the first day of the "referendum", Vladimir Rogov, a member of the Main Council of MCA, said that the Russian-controlled part of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast will be de jure independent for "some time" following the referendum.[64]

Question

The text printed on the ballots is bilingual, with Ukrainian alongside Russian:[41][65]

Do you approve of having Zaporizhzhia Oblast exit Ukraine, reforming Zaporizhzhia Oblast into a self-governing state as well as incorporating it into the Russian Federation with subject rights of the Russian Federation?

Result

On 27 September, Russian officials of the Central Election Commission in Zaporizhzhia claimed that the referendum passed, with 93.11% of voters in favour of joining the Russian Federation.[66] According to the data provided by the commission, the support for the annexation was 90.01% in the Melitopol Raion, while in its administrative center, Melitopol, it was 96.78%.[67]

Following the release of the preliminary results, Yevhen Balytskyi, the Head of the Zaporizhzhia military–civilian administration, stated that he plans to travel to Moscow in the next few days to request the admission of Zaporizhzhia into the Russian Federation.[68]

Other planned locations

Mykolaiv Oblast

See also: Russian occupation of Mykolaiv Oblast

On 8 August 2022, Ekaterina Gubareva, deputy head of the Kherson Civilian-Military Administration announced the annexation of occupied territories of Mykolaiv Oblast. She also claimed that in some occupied towns, Russian mobile communications have begun to work. According to her, such a decision was made in order to provide the population with social payments in the "liberated" territories, as well as to establish mobile communications and television broadcasting.[69][70]

On 13 August 2022, the head of the military-civilian administration of the Mykolaiv Oblast, Yuriy Barbashov claimed that a referendum would take place in Snihurivka to join Russia. The referendum would be aligned with the one in Kherson Oblast. Moreover, Ekaterina Gubareva, deputy head of the military-civilian administration of Kherson, claimed that occupied parts of Mykolaiv Oblast would be annexed into Kherson Oblast. It was said that the referendum would take place in September.[71][72]

Kharkiv Oblast

See also: Russian occupation of Kharkiv Oblast

On 8 July 2022, Vitaly Ganchev [ru], the Russian-appointed head of the military-civilian administration of the Kharkiv Oblast, said that Kharkiv is an 'inalienable' part of Russian territory and intends for Kharkiv to be annexed by the Russian Federation.[73] But on 11 August, Ganchev told the Russia-24 TV channel that the authorities of the territories of the Kharkiv Oblast controlled by Russian troops are not yet ready to discuss a referendum on joining Russia, because "only 20 percent and no more" of the region is under Russian control.[74] Residents lacking food were denied aid unless they submitted information for the voting register.[75] A similar event would have occurred in the Kharkiv Oblast if not for the Ukrainian counteroffensive that forced Russia to retreat from most of the territory it occupied in September.[76]

Opinion polls

There are no public independent statistics on attitudes towards referendums in the occupied territories. According to closed polls commissioned by the Russian authorities in July 2022 about 30% of those surveyed supported joining Russia, about 30% supported staying in Ukraine, and the rest declined to answer.[22][25]

Opinions on the goals of holding referendums

Military analysts link the decision to hold referendums with the weakness of the Russian Federation on the battlefield.[77] The announcement of the referendums follows the rapid advance of the Ukrainian army in recent weeks, which has defeated Russian troops in the Kharkiv direction and is on the offensive in the east and south. Analysts estimate Russia has lost tens of thousands of troops, has announced a mobilisation to recruit new soldiers, and is facing mounting backlash over its long-term invasion and the general mobilisation order.[78][79] Sources such as The Guardian have called the referendums pre-determined and assumed that Russia will dictate that the results will favour annexation.[80]

Possible consequences

On 22 September, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said that any weapons in Moscow's arsenal, including strategic nuclear weapons, could be used to protect territories annexed to Russia from Ukraine. He also said that referendums organized by Russia-installed and separatist authorities would take place in large swathes of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory and that there was "no turning back".[81] Medvedev said that Donbas republics and other territories "will be accepted into Russia" and mobilisation will also be used to protect the annexed territories.[81] Russian senator Konstantin Kosachev warned that after the referendums, "protecting people in this region will not be our right, but our duty. An attack on people and territories will be an attack on Russia. With all the consequences."[82] Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov did not rule out the use of nuclear weapons to defend annexed Ukrainian territories.[83]

Ivan Fedorov, the exiled mayor of occupied Melitopol, stated that the main reason for the pseudo-referendum in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast is to conscript local men into military service for Russia, just as was the case in the "people's republics" of the Donbas region during the mobilization in Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics on 19 February 2022.[84]

Conduct

On the first day of the referendum, 23 September. DPR leader Denis Pushilin and Russian politician Andrey Turchak of Putin's United Russia party

During the first four days, only special people[clarification needed] were to vote and it would be possible to vote in adjoining territories. And only on the last day, 27 September, polling stations would open for residents. The occupation authorities explained this decision by concern for the safety of residents, many of whom had to vote in front-line settlements.[85]

Voters are coerced into voting[86] with armed soldiers going door to door to collect votes. Ballots are filled out by the soldiers rather than the voters themselves. Individuals are not allowed to vote, as there is only one vote allowed per household.[87][88][89][90] Voters do not need any form of identification in order to cast a vote.[91] The events are expected to end on 27 September, although, according to the UK ambassador to Ukraine, the final results have likely already been decided beforehand.[92] According to a contributor at the Washington Law Review, Russia will try to use the illegal referendums to give official justification for the annexation of additional Ukrainian territory and for possible negotiations with Ukraine about its NATO status, which is currently unclear due to conflicting statements in past Ukrainian law.[93]

Ballots for the "referendum" in the Donetsk People's Republic

First day

The election commissions began work at 8:00 a.m. Moscow time on 23 September. Polling stations for "voting" opened in Russia at the same time.[94]

On the first day of voting, rallies were held in Russian cities "in support of referendums on joining Russia" in the occupied Ukrainian regions. In a number of cases, students were offered money and additional points for participating in the rally.[95]

Second day

Anonymous local residents of the cities complained that along with the "election commissions" walking around the apartments, there were military men with automatic rifles, and that "there is no secret ballot." Head of the Luhansk Regional Military–Civil Administration Serhii Haidai said that "commissioners" threatened to break down doors, collected names of those who voted "no", and used the opportunity to identify men eligible for conscription.[75] At the same time, some people stated that "they did not notice the coercion to vote." Residents of Berdiansk told reporters that there were many tents with Russian propaganda in the centre of the city, and there were also volunteers with ballot boxes.[96]

Third day

According to data published by the organizers, on the third day of the referendum, the turnout exceeded 50% in the DPR, LPR and Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to Russian media – which makes the referendums "valid".[97]

Fourth day

According to the organizers and Russian media, the referendum was recognized as valid in the Kherson Oblast: according to their data, more than 50% of voters were able to vote there.[98]

Fifth day

Unlike previous days, on the fifth day of polling, the referendum was held at polling stations.[99]

Reactions

Ukraine

The government considers the referendum illegitimate,[100] and has accused Russia of coercing residents to vote, as well as busing in sympathetic voters from Crimea.[101]

International organisations

Countries

  • Austria Austrian Foreign Ministry stated "the sham referenda lack any legitimacy under international law and will not be recognized".[107]
  • Bulgaria Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria stated that Moscow's nuclear rhetoric and so-called referenda "amplify the necessity of consistent support" for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.[108]
  • Canada Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter that Canada and the G7 "will never recognize the outcome".
  • China Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected.[109]
  • France President of France Emmanuel Macron called the referendums a "farce" and stated that France would not recognise the results.[110]
  • Estonia Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas tweeted "We will never recognize this" and "Ukraine has every right to take back its territory."[111]
  • Germany Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz strongly criticised the idea of Russia holding referendums in parts of Ukraine.[112] He said it is "quite clear these sham referendums cannot be accepted", citing their illegitimacy according to "international law and by the understandings that the world community has found".[113]
  •  India expressed support for "sovereignty and territorial integrity" of Ukraine.[114]
  • Israel The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced that Israel will not recognize the results of the referendum held in four occupied districts in eastern Ukraine. In a published message it is written that "Israel recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and will not recognize the results of the referendums in the eastern regions of Ukraine".[115]
  • Kazakhstan Kazakhstan: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov stated that Kazakhstan will not recognise the referendums. He also added that "Kazakhstan proceeds from the principles of territorial integrity of states, their sovereign equivalence and peaceful coexistence".[116]
  • Poland Poland: President Andrzej Duda stated that the referendums are worth nothing and Poland will not recognise the results.[117]
  • Romania Romania: Foreign Minister of Romania Bogdan Aurescu called the referendums "completely unacceptable" and reiterated Romania’s support for the "independence, sovereignty & territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognised borders".[118]
  • Serbia Serbia: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selaković said that Serbia will not recognise the results of the referendums.[119]
  • Spain Spain: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the "illegal voting shams organised in Ukraine", stressing the government's "firm support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders".[120]
  •   Switzerland: The Federal Council stated that Russia, as the occupying power, is obliged under international law to comply with international humanitarian law, human rights and the existing Ukrainian legal system and that the occupying power does not gain sovereignty over the area. Switzerland will not recognize the result of the so-called referendum. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Russian ambassador to convey Switzerland's position.[121]
  •  Turkey: President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has maintained a constructive relationship with both NATO and Russia, but decried the attempt with a public statement reading in part, “Such illegitimate faits accomplis will not be recognised by the international community. On the contrary, they will complicate efforts to revitalise the diplomatic process and deepen instability”.[122]
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the UK had evidence that Russian officials had already set targets for "invented voter turnouts and approval rates for these sham referenda".[123]
  • United States President of the United States Joe Biden denounced the referendum, saying it was a "sham" and that the United States will not recognize the results.[124][125]
  •  Georgia: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia condemned the referendums, reaffirming support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.[126]

Human rights organisations

Amnesty International described the referendums as "a ruse for Russia to illegally annex occupied Ukrainian territory" and a "profound disregard for international law and the rights of people in the territories under its occupation".[127]

See also

References

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External links

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2022_annexation_referendums_in_Russian-occupied_Ukraine&diff=prev&oldid=1112866873

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