Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration: occupiers are going to prepare Enerhodar for "referendum"

KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO — MONDAY, 16 MAY 2022, 22:18

The occupiers were instructed to prepare the captured city of Enerhodar in Zaporizhzhia Oblast [region] for a "referendum".

Source: Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "The occupiers were instructed to prepare Enerhodar for a so-called "referendum".

The Russians want to create an informational image suggesting that the residents of the city, home of a major nuclear power plant, are expressing their desire to join Russia, but in fact [the Russians] wish ultimately to link the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to Rosatom [a Russian state corporation] and destroy Ukraine's energy system.

Details: The Oblast Military Administration reports that according to local residents, in Enerhodar the Russian military went to the apartments on Monday and picked up the men, tied their hands and took them away to an unknown place. Six people are currently reported as having been abducted. While committing these crimes, the Russians kept everyone living in the apartments at gunpoint.

In addition, it is reported that the Russian military is digging trenches around the city and building fortifications.

The Oblast Military Administration also reported that the municipal "Unified information systems" in Enerhodar were no longer able to perform their functions in full for the city, and therefore its funding has been suspended until the city is liberated from the occupiers. Company accounts have been blocked. Employees who want to work under Ukrainian law are invited to move temporarily into alternative positions at other public services.

Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration also reports that in Melitopol, the occupation authorities are trying to blackmail the residents to win their loyalty.

"Employees of institutions financed by the state budget are convinced that they may lose their jobs forever because there are many migrants from Mariupol who are ready to cooperate with the occupation authorities. At the same time, over two months, almost half of the population has left Melitopol: mostly it is elderly people or residents who have elderly relatives who have remained in the city," the statement said. 

Background: On 4 May, the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration reported that the Russian invaders forbade the heads of the Zaporozhzhia nuclear power plant to leave the city, even for business trips.