Date of ‘annexation referendum’ to be held by Russia in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia revealed

On September 11, Ukraine's partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region will hold a referendum on joining Russia, Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russian-installed head of the occupied part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, said in a meeting with residents, Report informs.

According to him, the voting is planned to be held as expected, with cabins, ballot boxes, and taking them to their homes for citizens who cannot come in person.

Balitsky called the online format difficult due to the threat of cyberattacks: although the "de jure" region does not yet belong to the Russian Federation, the local "authority" would like it very much.

He did not say anything about the position of residents.

Meduza internet publication has previously determined that only 30% of the residents of the occupied territories of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions favour joining Russia. At the same time, the head of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, said that the date of the referendum on the annexation of Donbas to Russia will be announced after capturing the entire Donetsk region. After nearly six months of the war, the Russian Federation and separatist forces could not take control of the whole territory of the region, and battles continue there. The pro-Russia media stopped disclosing the percentage of "liberated" lands.