Could Sham Referenda Shift War in Russia's Favour?

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Could Sham Referenda Shift War in Russia’s Favour?

There was no surprise in the results of these ‘referenda’. A week after the hastily-organised votes were announced, Russian officials claimed overwhelming majorities in four occupied regions of Ukraine - Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson.

In Donetsk, the pro-Kremlin authorities say over 99% of people wanted to become part of Russia, and 98% in Luhansk.

Ukraine’s President Volodomyr Zelensky has vowed to protect the people in those four regions, which make up 15% of Ukraine’s territory.

The West has called the results a sham - and said they will not recognise their legitimacy.

Any annexation of territory will likely spark further sanctions.

In Kiev, the plan remains the same - Ukraine will push ahead with its offensive to retake areas lost to Russia earlier in the war.

But if Moscow has its way, any attempt to oust the occupiers from their sovereign territory will be seen as an act of aggression.

Report by Sophie Braybrook

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