Russia-Ukraine drone attack during the referendum
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On the 25th (local time) the Russian state news agency TAS reported that 93% of the residents of Zaporiza supported the annexation of the Russian territory while Russia had put in a referendum whether to annex the four occupied territories in Ukraine.
According to the report, the Crimean Institute for Political and Social Affairs said an exit poll of 500 people who had finished voting on the 23rd, the first day of voting, showed that 93% supported the annexation of the Russian territory.
The referendum on territorial incorporation, which Russia is conducting in four occupied territories in Ukraine, will be held for five days from 23 to 27.
The regions covered are Donetsk Oblast and Luhansk Oblast (Russian name Lugansk) in eastern Ukraine, where the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) were founded, and Southern Zaporiza Oblast and Cherson Oblast.
There is evidence from various places that this vote is held in violation of basic procedural principles, such as secret ballot.
It is also unusual for the exit poll results to be announced during the voting process.
It is known that many of the residents have already fled after the Russian invasion.
Most of the remaining residents could be Russian or pro-Russian, so a crushing vote is expected.
In the case of Crimea, occupied by Russia in 2014, a referendum for territorial annexation was approved with a whopping 97% in favor.
As Ukraine and the West strongly oppose the Russian-led referendum as a violation of international law, Russia is expected to announce approval of the annexation of the occupied territories to Ukraine on the 30th.
In the midst of the referendum, Russia and Ukraine continued to attack each other.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Monday that the Ukrainian army’s self-destructive drone was prevented from attacking the Zaporiza nuclear power plant.
“Ukrainian forces attempted to attack the Zaporiza nuclear power plant area with eight self-destructive drones, but all of them were shot down outside the nuclear power plant area,” Konashenkov said.
He added that the current level of radiation at the Japoriza nuclear power plant is normal.
On the contrary, the Ukrainian side claimed that the Russian army attacked the southern region of Odessa overnight with self-destructive drones.
“Odessa was again attacked by an enemy self-destruct drone,” said Natalia Humeniuk, spokeswoman for the Ukrainian army’s southern command.
“No casualties have yet been reported,” he added.
/ yunhap news
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