Russian state media is reporting that ongoing voting in occupied Kherson, Zaporizhzia, Donetsk, and Luhansk has confirmed that all four oblasts will join the Russian Federation.
The official numbers in favor thus far are:
99.23%- Donetsk Peoples Republic
98.42- Luhansk Peoples Republic
87.05%- Russian controlled Kherson Oblast
93.11%- Russian controlled Zaporizhzia Oblast.
Various world leaders including President Zelensky and U.S. State Department Secretary Blinken have vowed that the international community will not accept the results of the “sham” referendums. Video has circulated of what appears to be voter registration officials going to peoples homes in Kherson, with armed escorts, attempting to solicit votes. While Russian state owned media purports that the security is for the protection of the government officials, pro-Ukrainian sources say that it is an intimidation tactic.
While there is still voting going on, the apparent majority shows there is no chance that any of the four regions will “vote” to not join Russia.
This also comes in conjunction with comments made by Secretary Blinken today that he given Ukraine the green light to use U.S. made weapons in regions of Ukraine that are annexed to Russia. He did not mention if that included Crimea, which would be a red line for President Putin.
President Zelensky made the following statement concerning the referendums:
“Any criminal actions of Russia will not change anything for Ukraine. We recognize the UN Charter, we recognize the basic principles of coexistence of peoples, and we will continue to act in order to protect normal life in Ukraine, Europe and the world. We will act to protect our people: both in the Kherson region, in the Zaporizhia region, in the Donbass, in the currently occupied areas of the Kharkiv region, and in the Crimea. This farce in the occupied territory cannot even be called an imitation of referendums. And as for the front, I will say it briefly and for now without details, although they will be good: we are moving forward and liberating our land. Glory to Ukraine!”
