DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye, Kherson Regions Hold Referendums on Joining Russia
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Referendums on the territorial affiliation of the People's Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions are taking place on September 23-27.
On Tuesday, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, along with the Russian-controlled parts of the regions of Zaporozhye and Kherson, said that they would hold referendums on accession to Russia from 23 to 27 September.
The next day, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization in the country. The measure is prompted by the need to control the 1,000-kilometer (621-mile) contact line with Ukrainian forces and Russian-controlled territories, Sputnik reported.
The DPR and LPR proclaimed their independence from Ukraine in 2014 after holding referendums. In February 2022, Russia recognized the DPR and LPR as independent states and launched a military operation in Ukraine in response to calls for help from the two breakaway republics.
The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) has presented data from a survey conducted by the Expert Institute for Social Research (EIS) among residents of the DPR, LPR, and Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.
According to the survey, the majority of the interviewed residents of the DPR, LPR, and Zaporozhye and Kherson regions declared their intention to cast their votes on the territorial affiliation of their regions. The maximum declared turnout was recorded in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics - 87% each. In the Zaporozhye region, the figure was 80%, while in Kherson it was 69%.
The absolute majority of DPR and LPR residents who are ready to take part in the referendum are in favor of the republics joining Russia as subjects of the Russian Federation (97% each). 3% of the respondents found it difficult to give an answer or did not make up their minds at the time.
The surveyed residents of the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions who declared their intention to take part in the vote, also said they supported secession from Ukraine and the entry of the regions into Russia as subjects (87% and 89%, respectively). 2% of the residents of these regions opposed such a decision, while one in ten found it difficult to answer or had not yet decided (11% and 9%, respectively).