In the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya region of Ukraine, 93 percent of voters voted to join the Russian Federation on September 23, the first day of the mock referendum hosted by Moscow. This was reported by the Russian state news agency TASS on Sunday based on exit polls.
According to the Republican Crimean Institute of Political and Sociological Studies (RIPSI), 500 residents of the region were interviewed on the first day of voting in the referendum. According to a RIPSI statement, 93 percent of those who took part in the vote voted to join Russia and only 7 percent to stay with Ukraine.
Voices not recognized
The authorities of the pro-Russian “People’s Republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as the governments of the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, will hold their internationally unrecognized votes from September 23 to 27.
Since the referenda cannot be described as free and fair according to most observers, overwhelming approval of the union with Russia is expected. This could lead to a further escalation of the Ukraine war, as Moscow could now label Ukrainian attacks on these areas a “violation of Russian sovereignty”.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
