Russia's Putin administration has launched a "referendum" on the 23rd with the aim of unilaterally annexing eastern and southern Ukraine.
The Russian side insists on the legitimacy of the vote, and has shown its intention to unilaterally proceed with the annexation based on the results of the vote, but the Ukrainian side strongly opposes it.
Russia's Putin regime is aiming for unilateral annexation of the regions it controls in Ukraine, and on the 23rd, pro-Russian forces began operating in Donetsk and Luhansk provinces in the eastern Donbass region, southeastern Zaporizhia province, and southern Kherson province. We have started an organized activity that we call a "referendum".
The voting act is scheduled to continue until the 27th, and Russia's Senate President Matvienko insisted on the 23rd, ``I am convinced that the referendum will be conducted in a way that leaves no doubt about its legitimacy.''
Prior to this, former Russian president Medvedev, vice chairman of the Security Council, posted on social media on the 21st that "a referendum will be held and territories such as Donbass will be accepted by Russia," and announced the results of the vote. As a basis, he suggested that Russia could unilaterally proceed with the annexation of this region.
In response, Ukrainian President Zelensky said on the 22nd, ``The farce of a fake referendum in the occupied territories is the same as what happened in Crimea in 2014.''
On the 22nd, the U.S. think tank War Research Institute warned, citing information from Ukrainian authorities and others, that "in Luhansk Oblast, the Russians have formed an armed group and are going door to door to get them to participate in the referendum." doing.
On the other hand, President Putin announced on the 21st that not only professional soldiers but also so-called reserves would be partially mobilized, and Russian Defense Minister Shoigu explained that the scale of mobilization would be 300,000.
A senior Russian military official also said about 10,000 people voluntarily visited various recruiting offices and volunteered to join the army on Wednesday, the day after the partial mobilization order was announced.
In response, Russia's independent media Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on the 22nd, citing a person close to the Putin administration, that the mobilization order had a non-disclosure clause, and that one million It is said that it contains content that enables the mobilization of reserve personnel.
Peskov, a spokesman for the Russian presidential office, denied the allegations.
After President Putin announced the mobilization order, protests against the invasion took place in various places in Russia, and a Russian human rights group said that more than 1,300 people were detained by the authorities in the two days until the 22nd. increase.
It seems that some citizens are starting to leave for neighboring countries, and ripples over mobilization are spreading in Russia.
In the eastern controlled area, Russian officials go around houses with ballot papers
A woman living in the Russian-held eastern part of Ukraine requested anonymity on the 23rd for what she called a "referendum" aimed at unilaterally annexing areas controlled by the Putin regime in Ukraine. I clarified the current situation in response to a telephone interview with NHK.
A 45-year-old woman living in the eastern province of Luhansk said that in Luhansk, officials on the Russian side carry ballots to homes and workplaces, urging people to vote on the spot.
And those who could not vote at home or work are instructed to go to the polling place and vote on the 27th of this month, the final day of the voting period.
The woman said, 'The ballot has a question 'Do you support being part of Russia?' And check yes or no.'
She also said she "didn't want to go to the polls, but if they came to my house or work, I would vote," she said, declining to say if she was for or against. I was.
"Everyone knows everything is already decided. I don't think I'll go to the polls, but other people seem to want to vote," she said. .