Zelensky: "Russia's Occupied Territory Annexation Referendum, The World Will Respond"

Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dong-hyun] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concern on the 23rd (local time) about the 'Russian annexation' referendums being held in four Russian-occupied territories.

According to AFP, President Zelensky stated in his regular national address that "the vote will be clearly condemned" and "the entire world will respond with absolute fairness to this sham vote." He added, "(The referendums) are crimes that violate not only international law but also Ukrainian law."

In the four Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine?Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia?the referendums asking whether to join Russian territory began on the morning of the same day.

Russia currently occupies most of Luhansk and Kherson provinces, 80% of Zaporizhzhia province, and about 60% of Donetsk province. The total occupied area amounts to approximately 15% of Ukraine's territory.

The voting will continue until the 27th.