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The pro-Russian authorities of the Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhia, Kherson and Lugansk on Tuesday claimed a “yes” victory to the annexation by Russia, and are still awaiting the results of the fourth Ukrainian region occupied by the Russian Federation.
According to the electoral authorities installed by Russia in the four regions, 93.11% of the citizens of Zaporizhia voted in favor of annexation to Russia, after 100% of the votes were counted.
In the Kherson region, the Moscow administration reported that 87.05% of voters voted “yes” to annexation, and all votes were also counted.
Shortly after, the Lugansk authorities also announced the victory of the “yes”, while the count continues in the fourth Ukrainian region where a “referendum” was also held, Donbass (east), despite the fact that the authorities had already announced that “The yes has largely prevailed.”
Today, the Russian presidency (Kremlin) has once again threatened to use nuclear weapons to defend the territories in question.
The referendums, disputed by both kyiv and the West, should serve as a pretext for Moscow to annex the four regions, which could happen on Friday.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kouleba, ignored the voting figures, which were announced during the day, and assured that “nothing changes” in the military actions of kyiv.
Ukraine’s allies also denounced these votes, which were urgently organized by Russia in view of the advance of the kyiv forces.
The UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs reiterated, at a Security Council meeting on annexation “referendums” held today, the UN’s support for the “territorial integrity of Ukraine” and “its recognized borders.”
The G7, a group of the seven most industrialized countries in the world (Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom) promised to “never recognize” the results, while Washington guaranteed that it would give “a severe response” to through new economic sanctions.
In 2014, Russia used the result of a referendum held under military occupation to legitimize the annexation of Ukraine’s Black Sea peninsula of Crimea.
*News updated at 10:27 p.m. on September 27 with more results on the referendums.
Source: Observadora
