US: Russia to Hold Referendum in Ukraine's Donbas This Month, Marking Start of Annexation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] An official warning has been issued in the United States that Russia will conduct referendums this month in pro-Russian separatist regions in the Donbas area of Ukraine to begin the process of annexation by Russia. Previously, during the 2014 occupation of the Crimean Peninsula, Russia also held a referendum to emphasize the legitimacy of the annexation.

According to AFP on the 2nd (local time), Michael Carpenter, the U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), stated at a press conference that "Reports have emerged that Russia plans to hold referendums around mid-month in the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics in the Donbas region to annex them to Russia," adding, "Russia has similar plans for Kherson."

Previously, during the 2014 occupation of the Crimean Peninsula, Russia held a referendum on whether to join Russia, announcing that 96.77% voted in favor of annexation. However, the international community regards that vote as fraudulent, and Crimea is still recognized as Ukrainian territory.

Ambassador Carpenter said, "The reports about Russia's referendum plans are highly credible. Unfortunately, we have accurately predicted Russia's strategies with a high success rate," emphasizing, "We must act with urgency. Any attempt by Russia to manipulate 'fake referendums' and annex Ukrainian territory will never be legally recognized by the international community."

Carpenter strongly condemned Russia, stating, "To carry out the fake referendums, Russian forces are kidnapping, torturing Ukrainian politicians, journalists, and religious leaders in the region, and forcibly relocating residents," adding, "Many residents are being sent to forced labor camps."

The New York Times (NYT) analyzed that as Russia's offensive focuses on the southeast, it will fully annex the strategically important Donbas and Kherson regions into Russian territory, then advance Russian forces to Odesa to completely block Ukraine's access to the Azov Sea and the Black Sea.