– We are worse off than North Korea, says a Donetsk resident. A “referendum” will now be held in the occupied territories.
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22. week 2022 21:03
Last updated right now
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Water every three days. They never know when they will have electricity or mobile coverage. Or when the bombs fall.
This is how Sergej describes life in occupied Donetsk. Not his real name. Aftenposten chose to make him anonymous for his safety.
He was born and raised in Donetsk, Ukraine. This is one of the republics that will hold a so-called referendum this weekend to decide whether to join Russia.
Sergej snorts at the thought.
– Which country launches a referendum with three days’ notice? This is just hype, he tells Aftenposten over the phone.
But a “referendum” has yet to be held as the bombs fall and the occupying power follows.
Western leaders call the vote “completely illegitimate”. But it is no coincidence that Putin wants these parts to become part of Russia right now. So he can claim that Russian territory has been attacked – and he can mobilize a larger section of the population and use more of his military toolbox. There are, among other things, nuclear weapons.
The republics hold the key to the development of the war in Ukraine. But what do they mean themselves?
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