Ukraine province announces plan to vote on annexation to Russia

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 Kherson province officials announced plans to annex Russia after holding a referendum in the region.


"This year we will hold a referendum and after the referendum we will ask the Russian leadership for a merger," said Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the provincial military-civilian administration. Kherson, said today June 21.


According to Stremousov, Kherson is expected to join Russia by the end of this year.


Stremousov confirmed that Kherson could hold a referendum in the fall and that the local government is preparing for it. He also expressed confidence that the majority of local people would support the idea of ​​annexation to Russia.


"Russia is the country that allows us to have a future, a promising future of our own, while Ukraine fails as a country," Stremousov added.


Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the State Duma (lower house) of Russia, said on June 1 that the four Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia could hold referendums on June 1. this summer to decide whether to join Russia.


The regions of Donetsk and Lugansk in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine are the site of fierce fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces.


Kherson is a southern territory of Ukraine, bordering the Crimean peninsula. Russian military forces have taken control of the entire territory of this region since mid-March.


In Kherson, the authorities raised the idea of ​​annexing Russia, and wanted Russia to set up a military base there to ensure security.


In May, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree simplifying the procedure for people in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson provinces to receive Russian passports. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has voiced opposition to this move.


"The illegal issuance of passports is a clear violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the norms and principles of international humanitarian law," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.


The first Russian passports were issued to the people of Kherson on June 11.


Apart from Kherson, Russia controls most of Zaporizhzhia not long after launching a military operation in Ukraine in late February. Vladimir Rogov, a government official in Zaporizhzhia province, said Ukrainian nationals visiting Zaporizhzhia can apply. Apply for Russian citizenship.


Mr. Rogov announced the people of Zaporizhzhia would decide their future and a referendum was planned for this year.


Rogov did not disclose details about the timing of the referendum, but said the Zaporizhzhia government planned to hold the referendum even if Russia could not gain control of the entire region. this.


Ukrainian officials warn that referendums to join Russia will have no legal basis and face a strong reaction from the international community.


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that "any plan to establish a "Kherson People's Republic" will not succeed". Zelensky said that Russia will face heavy sanctions if it moves to annex this region.

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