The Russian occupiers announced mobilisation and are preparing a "referendum" in the Kherson region - General Staff
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO — THURSDAY, 21 APRIL 2022, 18:58
In the occupied territory of Kherson, the Russians have announced the mobilisation of men, and are planning a so-called "referendum" and "census".
Source: report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 6 pm
Quote: "In the temporarily occupied territory of the Kherson region, the self-proclaimed occupation authorities announced the mobilisation of men.
According to available information, a so-called "referendum" is planned for 1 May in the Russian-occupied part of the Kherson region. And they plan to conduct a "census" in the period of 2-10 May. Locals are prohibited from moving between settlements."
Details: On Thursday, the Russians continued offensive operations in the Eastern Operational Zone in order to establish full control over the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. At the same time, missile and bomb strikes on military and civilian infrastructure continue throughout Ukraine.
Kharkiv is being partially blockaded and the city's infrastructure is being destroyed by artillery on the Slobozhanskyi front.
The Russian occupying forces prohibit the movement of locals towards the territory controlled by the Ukrainian Defence Forces in the temporarily occupied territory of Kharkiv region. The delivery of humanitarian aid from the Ukrainian side is blocked.
On the Donetsk and Tavriia fronts, the invaders tried to take full control of Mariupol. They continued to carry out air strikes and attempted assaults in the area of the seaport and the "Azovstal'' plant.
The shelling of Mykolaiv continues on the Pivdennyi Buh front. The Russian soldiers are trying to improve their tactical position and get closer to the city, but have had no success.
In the Volyn, Polissia and Siverskyi fronts the Russian occupying forces did not conduct active operations, no signs of formation of offensive groups have been found. There has been a significant reduction in the intensity of the movement of columns of Russian military equipment on the territory of Belarus. Some units of the Belarusian Armed Forces continue to carry out tasks to cover the Ukrainian-Belarusian border in Brest and Gomel regions.
The General Staff said that aggressors continue to suffer significant losses in personnel and military equipment.
"According to updated data, the defenders of Ukraine killed Lieutenant Colonel Denis Mezhuyev, the commander of the First Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Second Motorized Rifle Division of the First Tank Army of the Western Military District. Two members of the same unit, Colonel Kharitonov and Lieutenant Colonel Smirnov, were also seriously injured and are being treated in the hospital in Moscow," the report said.
The General Staff also noted that forced mobilisation on the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, poor nutrition, low financial and material support of military personnel who arrived to replenish regular units of the Russian Federation significantly demoralised the personnel of the Russian occupying forces.