International, Politics

Report: Russia Plans Annexation Votes in Occupied Ukraine

New reporting in Bloomberg alleges that President Vladimir Putin’s plan for captured territories in Ukraine is to absorb them into the Russian federation by staging referendums as early as September, citing “people familiar with the strategy”.

“Officials are preparing to organize votes in areas currently controlled by the Russian military and any others its troops are able to seize in coming weeks, three people said,” the report indicates. “The goal is to conduct referendums on joining Russia by Sept. 15, two of the people said, asking not to be identified because the issue is sensitive.”

The allegation that Russian plans to go on an annexation spree comes the day following spokesman for the National Security Council (NSC) John Kirby giving a White House news briefing which laid out that the Kremlin is organizing a “sham referendum” in areas of Ukraine under military occupation. He speculated this could come in September, mentioning further that this will involve imposing the ruble and pressuring or forcing Ukrainians to apply for Russian citizenship. Read more…

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