In a speech on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin supported the proposed referendums in several Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine.
Putin said Russia had been asked by the two “people’s republics” in Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, to support the referendums and pledged to do “everything to ensure that the safe conditions for people to express their will. “
Some context: Various Kremlin-backed administrations in occupied areas to the east and south Ukraine announced that it will hold referendums on officially joining Russia this week, in a move that threatens to redefine the parameters of the conflict.
In what appeared to be a coordinated announcement, Russian-appointed leaders in the occupied Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions as well as the Luhansk People’s Republic and the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic said they plans to hold “voting” starting September 23.
The four regions that have announced referendum plans cover about 18 percent of Ukraine’s territory. Russia does not fully control any of these four companies.
The referendums could pave the way for Russia to annex the regions, allowing Moscow to view Ukraine’s ongoing counterattack there as an attack on Russia itself, thereby enabling Moscow to creep military response scale.
The latest developments follow a significant shift in Russia’s position after a Sudden and successful attack of Ukraine through most occupied Kharkiv This month, this excited Ukraine’s Western supporters and led to redefine in Moscow.
