Overwhelming Support for Referendum on Annexation of Russian-Occupied Territories... "Merger Declaration Possible as Early as the 30th"

Over 98% of All Voters Approve
Russia Hints at Possible Use of Nuclear Weapons
US Plans to Submit Condemnation Resolution to Security Council

On the last day of the referendum to join the Russian Federation, the 27th (local time), a woman is leaving after voting in Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia, southern Ukraine.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The territorial annexation vote in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine ended with an overwhelming approval rate of over 98%, Tass news agency reported on the 27th (local time).

The vote was held over five days starting from the 23rd in four regions: the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), established by pro-Russian separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine, as well as the southern regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. The four occupied regions account for 15% of Ukraine's territory.

Tass reported that voting ended at 4 p.m. local time in three of the four regions, excluding LPR. According to the provisional regional approval rates tallied by the election commission as of 11:59 p.m. local time, DPR recorded 98.35%, LPR 97.83%, Zaporizhzhia 97.79%, and Kherson 97.05%. The final results will be confirmed within five days.

Western countries expect Russia to declare the annexation of the four regions as early as the 30th. The UK Ministry of Defence stated that President Vladimir Putin is likely to officially announce the territorial annexation of Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine during his scheduled parliamentary address on the 30th.

The international community is paying close attention to the possibility that Russia may consider Ukraine's attacks on the occupied territories as a security threat to its own territory and respond with nuclear threats. Indeed, on the same day, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, hinted at mobilizing all means, including strategic nuclear weapons, to defend the territories including the occupied areas, further escalating tensions. He said, "Russia can mobilize all means, including strategic nuclear weapons, to defend its territory including the occupied regions."

Western countries have responded by intensifying sanctions against Russia. The UK Foreign Office plans to impose new sanctions on 92 Russian institutions and senior officials actively involved in the annexation vote. The United States, together with Albania, plans to submit a resolution condemning Russia's annexation vote to the UN Security Council.

Russia, as a permanent member of the Security Council with the strongest authority, can exercise its veto power against binding resolutions. However, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the UN, emphasized, "If Russia chooses to evade responsibility here in the Security Council, we expect the UN General Assembly to send a clear message to Moscow."