Four separate areas of Ukraine controlled by the Russian army will hold a referendum on membership in Russia on Friday (23rd). Russian Federation Security Council Vice Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday (22nd) that any weapons in the Moscow arsenal, including strategic nuclear weapons, will be held in Russia. weapons, can be used to defend new territories incorporated into Russia. NATO condemned the referendum as a fake referendum on the same day, stressing that it would not recognize Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory.
The referendums in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye will end next Tuesday (27th), and a notice board in Luhansk reads “Always with Russia”, “Our choice” It’s Russia” and other propaganda. Medvedev said through the messaging app Telegram that the Donbass and other regions would be accepted into Russia, noting that Russia would not only increase its mobilization force, but would also provide protection with any weapon in accordance with the new principles.
NATO issued a statement criticizing the referendum as false in nature and a gross violation of the UN Charter, reiterating that this is land belonging to Ukraine and that NATO allies will not recognize the result. British Foreign Secretary Qi Zhanming told the UN Security Council that Russian President Vladimir Putin was fabricating the results of the referendum to annex Ukraine, calling on countries to reject the tricks and any referendum results.