In May, the Russians are preparing "referendums" on the annexation of Donbas - russian media

DENYS KARLOVSKY — WEDNESDAY, 27 APRIL, 2022, 07:16 PM

Russian journalists' sources in the Kremlin claim that in mid-May the Russian special services are preparing "referendums" on the so-called "DNR" and "LNR" formations "joining" Russia, after which they are preparing a similar scenario in Kherson Region.

Source: Meduza, citing three unnamed Kremlin officials

Details: Sources of Russian journalists confirmed that in mid-May, the Russian authorities are preparing to integrate the illegal formations of the "DNR" and "LNR" by holding falsified "referendums". Two of them also named probable dates - May 14 and 15.

Those talking to the publication hinted that Russia wants to carry out the annexation within the "historical" borders of the so-called "DNR" and "LNR" - that is, within the administrative boundaries of Donetsk and Luhansk Regions. At the same time, the Ukrainian army controls a large part of the Donbas.

The journalists' sources explained that they had planned to organise "referendums" earlier - at the end of April - but these plans were thwarted by the failures of the Russian troops’ offensive in the Donbas.

In addition, during this period, they might also hold a "referendum" on the separation of the occupied territories of Kherson Region and the proclamation of their "independence" from Ukraine under the name "KhNR" [Kherson People’s Republic].

At the same time, according to these sources, officials of the presidential administration of the Russian Federation oppose the annexation of, in their words, "depressed regions", but it  is allegedly the personal wish of the "top leadership", that is, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin also allegedly revoked the powers of the deputy head of his administration, Dmitry Kozak, who was previously an informal "overseer of Ukrainian issues", in particular, he organised activities by the leaders of Russian illegal formations in the Donbas. Kozak fell out of favour with Putin because of his failures in the war.

The FSB is preparing "political instructors" who will oversee and control the occupation administrations in the occupied territories of Donbas and the southern regions. In addition, these agents of the Russian special services will have to suppress the resistance of the local population.

However, according to the journalists' sources, there are still few applicants for these positions because the pay is the same as it was before the full-scale invasion - 300,000 Russian rubles a month (about 118,000 UAH).

Background:

• Russian media have previously reported that, instead of Kozak, Sergei Kiriyenko, who previously oversaw the domestic policy issues in the Kremlin, was appointed as the "overseer".
• British journalists have learned from their sources in the Kremlin that Putin has abandoned attempts to reach agreements with Ukraine and has moved on to a strategy of total "land grab". At the same time, the Russian leadership is misinforming him, and Putin himself has become, they say, a hostage of his own propaganda.
• The leader of the so-called "LPR" Leonid Pasechnik said at the end of March that the illegal formation would ask Russia to annex it when Russian troops seized the entire territory of Luhansk Region. Then the Russian henchman spoke about the so-called "referendum".