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Putin might hold sham referendums in Luhansk and Donetsk

Moscow is likely to recognize the city of Kherson as an independent republic too

vladimir putin reuters Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin | Reuters

Russia plans to annexe much of eastern Ukraine later in the month, a senior US official has said. Putin could annex the states of Luhansk and Donetsk the US ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Michael Carpenter, said.

Carpenter said that Moscow plans to hold sham referendums in Luhansk and Donetsk which would “try to add a veneer of democratic or electoral legitimacy” and attach the regions to Russia.

A few days before Russia invaded Ukraine, Putin recognised the independence of Luhansk and Donetsk and called them Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic. 

Internet and cellphone service have been severed, mayors and local legislators have been severed and a Russian school curriculum will soon be imposed and, Carpenter said. The Ukrainian government said that Russia introduced its ruble as currency there. 

Moscow is likely to recognize the southern city of Kherson as an independent republic too.

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