Russia’s war in Ukraine

A soldier calling himself the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) voted in a referendum on Friday at a military unit in Luhansk to join Russia's Luhansk People's Republic.
A soldier calling himself the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) voted in a referendum on Friday at a military unit in Luhansk to join Russia’s Luhansk People’s Republic. (Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a speech late Friday that the ongoing referendum in Russian-occupied areas and Russia’s mobilization in those areas is a crime.

They “are not just crimes against international law and Ukrainian law. These are crimes against specific groups of people, against countries,” he said.

According to its separatist leader, Ukraine’s four Russian-occupied territories have begun a referendum to join Russia, a move that increases the risk of Moscow’s invasion of Russia seven months after the fighting began.

“The world will respond with absolute fairness to the bogus referendum – they will be unequivocally condemned and the criminal mobilization attempted by the occupiers in Crimea and the rest of Ukraine they still control,” Zelensky added.

Ukraine’s president has urged people in Russian-held areas to help weaken the occupation.

“If you do join the Russian army, then disrupt any enemy activity, interfere in any Russian operation, and pass on to us all the vital information about the occupiers – their bases, headquarters, ammunition depots. Whenever you get the chance, Join us. Do everything to save lives and help liberate Ukraine,” he added.

Counterattack: Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces “have recaptured about 9,000 square kilometers (3,500 square miles) of territory since the start of active operations in the east of our country,” Zelensky said.

“Almost 400 settlements have been liberated. This tangible result is due to our people in the temporarily occupied territories helping us. Please do everything you can to increase this aid,” Zelensky added.

Source link