People in Ukraine’s Russia-controlled regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia voted by an “overwhelming majority” to join Russia in referenda conducted from 23-27 September that have been firmly condemned as a “sham” by the West.
Calling it a “long and hard way home,” Donetsk leader Denis Pushilin stated, “We have been fighting for the right to join Russia, to come back home, to be with our real Motherland for more than 3,000 days,” adding that the results were not a “surprise to us.”
#Nebenzia: Not only the people of #Crimea and #Donbas, but also of Kherson and Zaporozhye regions turned their backs on Kiev. This process will invariably continue unless Kiev realizes its mistakes and starts to be guided by the interests of its people.https://t.co/1C5g7pEUxe pic.twitter.com/hblS11ny4I
— Russia at the United Nations (@RussiaUN) September 28, 2022
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that over 99.23% in Donetsk, 98.42% in Luhansk, 93.11% in Zaporizhzhia, and 87.05% in Kherson “made a conscious and free choice in favour of Russia,” rejecting the “inhumane policy” of the Ukrainian government. It also said that the referenda were conducted “in full conformity with the standards and principles of international law,” with 133 observers from different countries, including Italy, Germany, Venezuela, and Latvia.
However, many residents who left the Russia-occupied territories reportedly said nobody willingly voted in the plebiscites and that Russian authorities were taking the ballot boxes to people’s houses and forcing them to vote at gunpoint. Keeping this in mind, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the referenda a “propaganda show,” saying they are “null and worthless.”
There are also reports of residents from Crimea being bused to occupied regions of Ukraine and forced to vote in referenda
— Samuel Ramani (@SamRamani2) September 23, 2022
Andriy Yusov, a Ukrainian defence official, says that local residents are largely ignoring the referenda and Russia is forced to use coercion
“Forcing people in these territories to fill out some papers at the barrel of a gun is yet another Russian crime in the course of its aggression against Ukraine,” it noted, calling on its partners “to make it clear to Russia that the only response to its attempts of annexation, blackmail, and ultimatums will be the increase of support for Ukraine so that it prevails over the aggressor.”
Likewise, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared, “Ukraine cannot and will not put up with any attempts by Russia to seize any part of our land.” He also thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau, United Kingdom (UK) PM Liz Truss, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, and European Council President Charles Michel for their “clear and unequivocal support.”
Seeking to legitimise its invasion of Ukraine, #Russia held a staged "referendum" in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) September 28, 2022
Here's an explanation of why it makes no difference for Ukrainians & will never be recognised by the world community 👉 https://t.co/K96jEpdVIq pic.twitter.com/UT7hEY3CdL
Additionally, in an address to the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Zelensky confirmed, “Russia’s recognition of these sham referenda as allegedly normal, implementation of the so-called “Crimean scenario,” and another attempt to annex the territory of Ukraine will mean that there is nothing to talk about with this President of Russia,” referring to Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, the United States (US) denounced the referenda as “illegitimate and outrageous,” with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre asserting, “Regardless of Russia’s claims, this remains Ukrainian territory, and Ukraine has every right to continue to fight for their full sovereignty.” She also stated that Washington will work with its allies to “impose additional economic costs on Russia and individuals and entities inside and outside of Russia” that support this action.
We are putting forward a Security Council resolution to:
— Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (@USAmbUN) September 27, 2022
– condemn Russia's sham "referenda"
– call on Member States not to recognize any altered status of Ukraine
– and obligate Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine
In a similar vein, PM Trudeau announced: “In response to this further escalation, we intend to impose new sanctions against persons and entities that are complicit in this latest attempt to undermine the principles of state sovereignty, and that share responsibility for the ongoing senseless bloodshed across Ukraine.”
Separately, the US also announced $1.1 billion in additional military support for Ukraine’s long-term security investment, including 18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and supplementary ammunition. “We’ve all seen how Ukraine has leveraged this system to push back against Russia’s war of aggression, disrupting ammunition depots, supply lines, and logistical hubs far behind the frontlines,” a senior US official said.
Today 🇺🇸 @DeptofDefense announced a new $1.1 billion security support package for 🇺🇦. We'll get 18 more HIMARS, other critical equipment that'll bring 🇺🇦 victory closer. A very timely decision showing that Russian blackmail does not work. Gratitude to @POTUS & all our 🇺🇸 friends!
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 28, 2022
Luhansk leader Rodion Miroshnik claimed that the accession “should happen within a week.” Similarly, the Chairman of the Federation Council committee on constitutional legislation, Andrey Klishas, told Russian state-owned media RIA Novosti: “If the State Duma considers the relevant laws, the Federation Council can include it in the agenda of the meeting on 4 October and consider it,” with plenary sessions being held on 3 and 4 October. In contrast, Crimean Senator Olga Kovitidi said the integration process may take up to five to ten years, noting, “But many areas will be resolved faster, first of all, those related to social support and social security.”