Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky has accused Russia of organizing a fake independence referendum in the partially occupied territories in and around the cities of Kherson and Zaporizhzhya, in southern Ukraine.
Zelensky called on residents of those areas not to give any personal information, including passport numbers, to Russian forces.
“They’re not doing that to help you. It’s to fake a so-called referendum that goes on your territory. That’s the reality. Be careful.”
In 2014, Russia presented a referendum on Crimea, in which an overwhelming majority of voters said they wanted to join Russia. The Ukrainian government and the West condemned that referendum.