In the Ukrainian territory taken by Moscow’s forces, Ukrainians are given Russian passports, phone numbers, and set-top boxes for the viewing of Russian television. Russian forces removed all Ukrainian currency and replaced it with that of Russia’s and all who resisted this change have been arrested. Russians have also cut off Ukrainian cellular service and limited access to YouTube and Viber (a popular messaging app).
Billboards have been splattered with the colors blue-white-and-red. They read “We are one people. We are with Russia.” Russian officials on the territory have used fear and indoctrination to force Ukrainians to embrace Russian lifestyles.
That brings into light President Vladimir Putin’s new plan: a referendum.
Russian administrators that were placed in towns, villages, and cities paved the way for a vote that may start as early as September. The Kremlin has presented the referendum as a chance to make Ukraine become part of Russia. Pro-Russia locals are chosen to be part of the new “election commissions.” They are promoting the possible benefits of joining Russia and are already printing the ballots.
The prospect of another annexation is already in the looming future, putting pressure on Kyiv (the Ukrainian capital) to risk a counteroffensive maneuver.
Mr. Vladimir Konstantinov, the speaker of the Russian-imposed Crimean Parliament, sat next to President Vladimir Putin as he signed a document annexing the peninsula to Russia. He also apparently organized the Crimean “referendum,” for which 97% voted. The referendum was rejected and presented as a fake.
“Russia is beginning to roll out a version of what you could call an annexation playbook,” John Kirby, the spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council, said just this month.
Konstantinov also claimed that he was in constant touch with the Russian-imposed occupying authorities in the Kherson region. It was them who had told him that the authorities started printing ballots, the goal being that the voting would start in September.
As it appears, the Kremlin offers few specifics, which, clever enough, leaves paths for other options open. Aleksei Chesnakov, a Moscow political consultant, has advised Ukrainian policy to the Kremlin. Moscow considered referendums on joining Russia as its base policy. However, a potential vote on the matter has not been organized.
“The referendum scenario looks to be realistic and the priority in the absence of signals from Kyiv about readiness for negotiations on a settlement,” Mr. Chesnakov wrote in response to questions. “The legal and political vacuum, of course, needs to be filled.”
As such, Russian authorities have already taken the initiative to prepare all Russian-territory-occupiers for a referendum.
For example, earlier this week, the Russian-appointed authorities of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions announced that they were working on “election commissions” to help prepare for the referendum. One official said that it could happen on September 11, which is a day when local and regional elections would be held in Russia.
An announcement invited residents to join the “election commissions” by showing officials a passport copy, education records, and two I.D.-size photographs.
Officials in Kyiv say that any referendum on merging with Russia or forming a Russian client state that was filled with citizens would be illegal and likely false.
As for the Ukrainian citizens to whom this is all happening? Life for them is filled with occasional lack of things like cash and medicine, which are often exploited by Russians to win Ukrainian allegiance. People must apply for a Russian passport for registering a motor vehicle. Newborns and orphans are instantly recognized as Russian citizens.
There have been many reports of a lack of things like money and jobs in occupied territories.
“There’s no money in Kherson, there’s no work in Kherson,” said Andrei, 33, who had originally worked in a car dealership and moved with his wife and small child to western Ukraine.
“Kherson has returned to the 1990s when only vodka, beer and cigarettes were for sale,” he said.
One of the first things Russian officials did after snatching up the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, was to seek out Ukrainian officials that were pro-Kremlin. Then, they proceeded to place them in government positions. Russian forces then made a move to find and either abduct, torture, or execute political or cultural leaders that were seen as threats.
Oddly enough, a new priority for the Russians seems to be getting the Ukrainians to watch Russian television. The Russian broadcasting employees in Crimea have been dispatched to Kherson to start a news show called “Kherson and Zaporizhzhia 24,” and set-top boxes that allowed access to the Russian airlines were distributed to the Ukrainians. The Russians even went to the point where they gave set-top boxes to those who couldn’t get them in person.
The New York Times
Link:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/30/world/europe/russia-occupation-ukraine-kherson.html
Billboards have been splattered with the colors blue-white-and-red. They read “We are one people. We are with Russia.” Russian officials on the territory have used fear and indoctrination to force Ukrainians to embrace Russian lifestyles.
That brings into light President Vladimir Putin’s new plan: a referendum.
Russian administrators that were placed in towns, villages, and cities paved the way for a vote that may start as early as September. The Kremlin has presented the referendum as a chance to make Ukraine become part of Russia. Pro-Russia locals are chosen to be part of the new “election commissions.” They are promoting the possible benefits of joining Russia and are already printing the ballots.
The prospect of another annexation is already in the looming future, putting pressure on Kyiv (the Ukrainian capital) to risk a counteroffensive maneuver.
Mr. Vladimir Konstantinov, the speaker of the Russian-imposed Crimean Parliament, sat next to President Vladimir Putin as he signed a document annexing the peninsula to Russia. He also apparently organized the Crimean “referendum,” for which 97% voted. The referendum was rejected and presented as a fake.
“Russia is beginning to roll out a version of what you could call an annexation playbook,” John Kirby, the spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council, said just this month.
Konstantinov also claimed that he was in constant touch with the Russian-imposed occupying authorities in the Kherson region. It was them who had told him that the authorities started printing ballots, the goal being that the voting would start in September.
As it appears, the Kremlin offers few specifics, which, clever enough, leaves paths for other options open. Aleksei Chesnakov, a Moscow political consultant, has advised Ukrainian policy to the Kremlin. Moscow considered referendums on joining Russia as its base policy. However, a potential vote on the matter has not been organized.
“The referendum scenario looks to be realistic and the priority in the absence of signals from Kyiv about readiness for negotiations on a settlement,” Mr. Chesnakov wrote in response to questions. “The legal and political vacuum, of course, needs to be filled.”
As such, Russian authorities have already taken the initiative to prepare all Russian-territory-occupiers for a referendum.
For example, earlier this week, the Russian-appointed authorities of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions announced that they were working on “election commissions” to help prepare for the referendum. One official said that it could happen on September 11, which is a day when local and regional elections would be held in Russia.
An announcement invited residents to join the “election commissions” by showing officials a passport copy, education records, and two I.D.-size photographs.
Officials in Kyiv say that any referendum on merging with Russia or forming a Russian client state that was filled with citizens would be illegal and likely false.
As for the Ukrainian citizens to whom this is all happening? Life for them is filled with occasional lack of things like cash and medicine, which are often exploited by Russians to win Ukrainian allegiance. People must apply for a Russian passport for registering a motor vehicle. Newborns and orphans are instantly recognized as Russian citizens.
There have been many reports of a lack of things like money and jobs in occupied territories.
“There’s no money in Kherson, there’s no work in Kherson,” said Andrei, 33, who had originally worked in a car dealership and moved with his wife and small child to western Ukraine.
“Kherson has returned to the 1990s when only vodka, beer and cigarettes were for sale,” he said.
One of the first things Russian officials did after snatching up the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, was to seek out Ukrainian officials that were pro-Kremlin. Then, they proceeded to place them in government positions. Russian forces then made a move to find and either abduct, torture, or execute political or cultural leaders that were seen as threats.
Oddly enough, a new priority for the Russians seems to be getting the Ukrainians to watch Russian television. The Russian broadcasting employees in Crimea have been dispatched to Kherson to start a news show called “Kherson and Zaporizhzhia 24,” and set-top boxes that allowed access to the Russian airlines were distributed to the Ukrainians. The Russians even went to the point where they gave set-top boxes to those who couldn’t get them in person.
The New York Times
Link:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/30/world/europe/russia-occupation-ukraine-kherson.html
