Russia is preparing to annex 4 Ukrainian regions after 'sham' referendums
Four Russian-controlled areas in eastern and southern Ukraine announced Tuesday that they will hold "referendums" this week on joining Russia, paving the way for annexation. The votes in Russian-occupied parts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson provinces will start Friday and last for three days.
"Russia does not have a firm military grip on any of the regions it could move to annex," as Ukraine's army continues to retake territory from Russian forces, The Washington Post reports. "Seizing Ukrainian sovereign territory in flagrant violation of international law" is "a remarkably brazen" escalation by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
These "sham 'referendums' will not change anything," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said. "Ukraine has every right to liberate its territories and will keep liberating them whatever Russia has to say."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The U.S. and Europe agreed. "The United States will never recognize Russia's claims to purportedly annexed territory," and "never recognize this territory as anything other than part of Ukraine," White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters. "Sham referendums have no legitimacy," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg tweeted.
"The Kremlin's annexation plans are primarily targeting a domestic audience," the Institute for the Study of War think tank assessed Tuesday night. Putin ally Dmitri Medvedv, deputy head of Russia's Security Council, said the referendums and annexation would make the areas "irreversibly" part of Russia, and "an invasion into Russian territory is a crime, the execution of which will enable our use of all powers of self-defense."
That thinly veiled threat of nuclear retaliation was more explicit from RT's hawkish chief editor, Margarita Simonyan. "Today a referendum, tomorrow — recognition as part of the Russian Federation," she wrote Monday. "The day after tomorrow — strikes on the territory of Russia become a full-fledged war between Ukraine and NATO with Russia, untying Russia's hands in all respects." Given "what is about to happen, this week marks either the eve of our imminent victory or the eve of nuclear war," she added Tuesday.
Simonyan and other Russian journalists on Tuesday "breathlessly touted" a nationally televised speech Putin would deliver Tuesday night, presumably to announced some escalation in Russia's Ukraine offensive, The New York Times reports. "And then ... they declared it was postponed."
"There was no official explanation from the Kremlin about why the speech was delayed — or even that it had been planned at all," the Times notes. "Russian officials are demonstrably panicked over Ukrainian advances," ISW writes, and the fact that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was supposed to join Putin in his address suggests "Putin intended to make Shoigu the face of the current effort" — and "his most likely scapegoat" if things continue going badly in Ukraine.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The Pentagon faces an uncertain future with Trump
Talking Point The president-elect has nominated conservative commentator Pete Hegseth to lead the Defense Department
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
This is what you should know about State Department travel advisories and warnings
In Depth Stay safe on your international adventures
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
'All Tyson-Paul promised was spectacle and, in the end, that's all we got'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What happens if Russia declares war on Nato?
Today's Big Question Fears are growing after Vladimir Putin's 'unusually specific warning' to Western governments
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Who would fight Europe's war against Russia?
Today's Big Question Western armies are struggling to recruit and retain soldiers amid fears Moscow's war in Ukraine may spread across Europe
By Abby Wilson Published
-
Are Ukraine's F-16 fighter jets too little too late?
Today's Big Question US-made aircraft are 'significant improvement' on Soviet-era weaponry but long delay and lack of trained pilots could undo advantage against Russia
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Ukraine's stolen children
Under the Radar Officially 20,000 children have been detained since Russia's invasion in 2022, but the true number is likely to be far higher
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
A brief timeline of Russia's war in Ukraine
In Depth How the Kremlin's plan for a quick conquest turned into a quagmire
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Why is Ukraine backing far-right militias in Russia?
Today's Big Question The role of the fighters is a 'double-edged sword' for Kyiv, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
What does victory now look like for Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Not losing is as important as winning as the tide turns in Russia's favour again
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red Sea
Speed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published