Nfter the conclusion of mock referendums in several Ukrainian regions, the Russian occupiers presented an alleged overwhelming approval of the population there for annexation to Russia. After counting all the votes, more than 98 percent of voters approved in Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, more than 93 percent in Zaporizhia in the south and more than 87 percent in Cherson, also in the south, the occupation administrations said on Tuesday evening.
In Donetsk, the evaluation of the vote, which violated international law, was not yet complete, but according to preliminary information, the approval rating was already given as almost 95 percent. Thus, an unprecedented annexation of the territories is likely to begin in the coming days.
Referendums are not recognised
The mock referendums are not recognized worldwide because they are held in violation of Ukrainian and international laws and without minimum democratic standards. Over the past few days, observers have pointed to numerous cases in which Ukrainian residents of the occupied territories have been forced to vote.
In a next step, it is expected that the occupation administrations deployed by Moscow will officially apply to Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin for admission to Russian territory. Before the start of the sham referendums, Putin had emphasized that the areas would then be completely under the protection of the nuclear power Russia.
Zelenskyj: Annexation puts Putin against all of humanity
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the international community to take decisive action against a possible imminent annexation of parts of his country by Russia.
Referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said in a video address to the UN Security Council on Tuesday: “Annexion is the kind of act that puts it alone against all of humanity. A clear signal is now needed from every country in the world.” Any illegal annexation is a crime against all states.
USA preparing UN resolution against “referendums”.
Meanwhile, the USA is preparing a UN resolution against the Russian sham referendums. Ukraine’s fight is also a fight for the values of democracy, said US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Tuesday at a meeting of the most powerful body of the United Nations in New York. “Therefore, we will introduce a resolution condemning these sham referendums, urging member states not to recognize a changed status of Ukraine, and obliging Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine.”
A vote in the Security Council will almost certainly fail due to Russia’s veto, but could allow conclusions to be drawn about the degree of Russia’s isolation. After that, the resolution should go to the UN General Assembly with 193 member countries for a vote.
