Russia-Ukraine Battle: Kherson was the primary main metropolis to fall to Russian forces after invasion. (File)
Kyiv:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of planning to “falsify” an independence referendum within the partly occupied southern areas of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
In a video message Thursday night, Zelensky urged residents of areas below occupation to not present any private data, like their passport numbers, to the Russian forces.
“This isn’t that can assist you… That is aimed to falsify the so-called referendum in your land, if an order comes from Moscow to stage such a present,” the Ukrainian chief mentioned.
“That is the fact. Watch out.”
Kyiv in early March accused Moscow of planning a referendum in Kherson much like a 2014 Crimea ballot, wherein an amazing variety of residents voted to hitch the Russian federation.
That vote, which came about after a Russian takeover of the area, was condemned as unlawful by Ukraine’s authorities and the West.
The japanese pro-Russian territories of Donetsk and Lugansk additionally declared independence within the wake of referendums denounced as illegitimate by the worldwide neighborhood.
“Any ‘Kherson Folks’s Republics’ aren’t going to fly,” Zelensky warned. “If somebody needs a brand new annexation, it will possibly solely result in new highly effective sanctions strikes on Russia.”
Kherson was the primary main metropolis to fall to Russian forces after their February 24 invasion of Ukraine.
To the north, the Russian military additionally controls an unlimited space surrounding town of Zaporizhzhia, which stays in Ukrainian fingers.
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