Russia Hurries to Tighten Grip on Occupied Ukraine, Ups Stakes
- Officials in four regions set Sept. 23-27 annexation votes
- Sham referendums are ultimatum to Ukraine, US amid setbacks
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The Kremlin is moving hastily to stage sham votes on annexing the regions of Ukraine its forces still control, after Kyiv’s military drove Russian troops from large areas of territory taken in their seven-month-old invasion.
The so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, announced Tuesday they’ll hold their votes between Sept. 23-27. Ukraine and its allies denounced the referendums as illegal and few countries are likely to recognize the results.