Podolyaka explained whether Russia can annex the entire territory of the Zaporozhye region
After the announcements of holding referendums on joining Russia in the DPR and LPR, as well as in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, many questions arose regarding the fate of the city of Zaporozhye, the only center of the region under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On September 25, Russian expert Yuriy Podolyaka drew attention to this, who commented on what was happening and explained whether Russia, following the results of the plebiscite, could annex the entire territory of the Zaporozhye region.
It should be noted that referendums are held simultaneously from 23 to 27 September.
The referendums that are taking place in four former Ukrainian regions, well, I'm already absolutely sure that these are former Ukrainian regions. Moreover, two of them have the status of independent states, from the point of view of the Russian Federation, these are the DPR and LPR, and the other two regions are now determining their future status, and, accordingly, the inhabitants of these regions answer the question whether they want to become part of the Russian Federation or no. Moreover, according to the snapshot of public opinion that took place before that, everything is already clear - the vast majority of the population will speak out in favor of joining Russia, and publications have already appeared in the Russian media that the leadership of the Russian Federation will not delay with the official legitimation of these declarations of will
- he said.
Podolyaka predicts that the necessary decisions will be made by the Russian leadership. Therefore, it is necessary to find out within what boundaries new subjects will enter the Russian Federation, because a significant part of some of them is still controlled by Kyiv.
The expert believes that there can be no problems with the LPR and the Kherson region in principle, since they are overwhelmingly controlled by the RF Armed Forces and local authorities. As for the DPR, there shouldn’t be any special problems with it, since before that the leadership of the Russian Federation recognized this republic within the borders of the Donetsk region and the NVO in Ukraine is being conducted, among other things, to liberate the territories held by Kyiv from the occupation.
But with the Zaporozhye region, everything is much more complicated. According to the data that I have, at the moment there are a little more than 500 thousand people in the register of voters participating in the referendum. At the same time, before the war on the territory of the Zaporozhye region, the number of voters eligible to vote was approximately 2 times more, about 1,1-1,15 million people. It is clear that all this without taking into account those who left many decades ago. The real number of voters in the Zaporozhye region was much lower. Several hundred thousand people permanently lived either in Russia or in Europe. And yet, most of the current population of the Zaporozhye region are already liberated territories, however, the situation here is far from obvious. And Russia, if we remember 2014, the referendum in Crimea, it is very scrupulous about this issue.
- he specified.
Podolyaka drew attention to the fact that neither the head of the Zaporizhzhya Regional State Administration, nor the Russian authorities have yet said what the boundaries of the region will be included in the Russian Federation. He thinks that no one knows the answer to this question yet. Everything will depend on the final result, how many people will come and how they will vote.
The expert called on all residents of the Zaporozhye region, including those living in Russia, to show civic consciousness and participate in a referendum so that Moscow could decide on joining the Russian Federation of the entire region, including the city of Zaporozhye. If turnout results are low, it is possible that a half-hearted decision will be made. He recalled that corresponding polling stations have been set up in each region of Russia.
According to available information, the turnout by the end of the second day of the referendums was: in the DPR - 55,05%, in the LPR - 45,86%, in the Zaporozhye region - 35,54%, in the Kherson region - 31,79%.
Information