As Russia Holds Annexation Referendums, Ukraine Pushes to Reclaim Territory nytimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nytimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Under coercive conditions, with most residents gone and war still raging, Russia is putting on what it calls referendums on annexation but Ukraine and its allies call an illegal farce.
Ukraine’s president has urged citizens to resist the Russians in occupied territories, where voting is underway in what Western officials have called “sham” referendums on joining Russia.
The plans for staged referendums on becoming part of Russia were met with international condemnation. The process is expected to culminate with the annexation of an area larger than Portugal.