Russia is joining the new Russian-speaking regions of Donbass and Kherson with referendums to be held in late September to early October.
These referendums will be held in the regions of Donbass and Kherson, without excluding a referendum in the Kharkiv region and Zaporizhia, where, however, the Russian-speaking regions after the Ukrainian counter-offensive were reduced to 20% of the whole region after the 31% they had arrive
It is now legitimized for Russia to defend its territory in case the Ukrainians attack these areas!
They will become Republics of the Russian Federation, which will be described as “partially occupied by hostile Ukrainian forces”.
This transforms the “special military operation” into a real war and all that entails.
“Trespassing on Russian territory is a crime that allows us to use all defense forces. That is why these referendums cause so much fear in Kyiv and the West,” Medvedev said in a Telegram post, noting that no future Russian leader will be able to constitutionally overturn their outcome.
“These referendums would completely change the vector of Russia’s development for decades. And not only of our country. The geopolitical transformation of the world would be irreversible once the new territories are incorporated into Russia,” Medvedev also wrote.
Vladimir Putin will make a speech at 20:00 Greek time, regarding the plan for the union of the regions with Russia.
Something that will be a turning point for military operations.
The way is now open for conscription, should such a thing happen, in the event that Russian territory is considered to be attacked.
The Russian Parliament today approved heavy penalties for a range of crimes, including desertion, damage to military property and insubordination, if committed during military conscription or hostilities.
Ahead of the announcement of those dates, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had warned today that in the event of an attack on the annexed territories, Moscow would use “all the forces of legitimate defence”.
The president of the Russian Lower House declared that he would support the integration of the regions into Russia.
“Today, we must support the democracies with which we have signed mutual aid agreements,” said Russian State Duma Speaker Vychislav Volodin.
In a social media post addressed to Putin, LPR head Denis Pushilin wrote: “I ask you, as soon as possible, in case of a positive decision in the referendum – which we have no doubt about – to consider that the LPR becomes part of Russia.”
Russia may hold 25% of the former Ukrainian territory as of 2014, but in that area are almost 20 million of the 43 million people who made up Ukraine’s pre-war population.
This population is overwhelmingly Russian-speaking (90%) and they are expected to be easily absorbed by the Russian Federation.
From the southern regions of Kharkiv to the western Kherson that have come under Russian rule (or according to the Russians “liberated”), the population “injection” being made in Russia corresponds to a demographic increase of its population by 13%!
The inhabitants of the Russian Federation from 143 million will now exceed 160 million, together with Crimea, with what this entails in the economic and state “dynamics” of the Federation.
At the same time, 60% of Ukraine’s granaries and 50% of its industrial potential are controlled.
It is characteristic that only the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which will now be operated by Russia, corresponds to a percentage of about 23% (other sources report 20% and others 28%) of the energy that Ukraine needs.
Only the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant with a small expansion of its units can electrify the entire new territories that will join Russia.
Russia has also joined 80% of major Black Sea ports since 2014, with Odessa and a secondary port west of Crimea the only ones in Ukraine that can handle commercial traffic.
After all, Moscow has made it clear that as soon as it is finished with the operation in Donbass, it will move west towards Odessa.
So the Russian Federation has almost immediately doubled its income from fossil fuels (natural gas, oil, coal, etc.), it has almost tripled its income from grain and metals, such as nickel, it has increased its population of 13% and its geostrategic position in the northern Black Sea to a percentage of the coastline of 80% compared to February 2014.
Unsurprisingly, the US has indicated that it will recognize no referendum in Ukraine.
