Russia claims victory in Ukraine ‘sham referendums’
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Pro-Kremlin officials have said three parts of occupied Ukrainian territory have chosen to join Russia, following votes that Kyiv and the West dismissed as “sham referendums”.
Voting started in the regions of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia last Thursday, shortly after a series of humiliating military setbacks for Moscow. In recent weeks, Ukraine has recaptured thousands of square kilometres of land, especially in the northeast province of Kharkiv.
On Tuesday, Moscow-backed separatists said 93 per cent of ballots in Zaporizhzhia were cast in favour of Russian annexation. The counts in the southern Kherson region and the eastern Luhansk region were similarly one-sided, they added.
Results from Donetsk are expected to be announced later.
Ahead of the counts, the West hit out at the “preordained” referendums, with the UK bringing more sanctions against Russia because of the votes.
“Sham referendums held at the barrel of a gun cannot be free or fair and we will never recognise their results. They follow a clear pattern of violence, intimidation, torture, and forced deportations in the areas of Ukraine Russia has seized,” British foreign secretary James Cleverly said.
Earlier this week, he announced a raft of sanctions against more than 90 people linked to the votes or accused of funding the Russian war machine.
The US is currently drafting a resolution at the United Nations Security Council to condemn the referendums.
“Russia’s sham referenda, if accepted, will open a pandora’s box that we cannot close,” American envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.
If Moscow vetoes the resolution, a vote could then be held at the UN General Assembly, Ms Thomas-Greenfield said.
“If Russia chooses to shield itself from accountability here in the Council, we will then look to the UN General Assembly to send an unmistakable message to Moscow.”
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