# US says Russia plans fake independence votes in seized Ukraine territory
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-04-28
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: US Accuses Russia of Planning Fake Votes in Ukraine
Meta Description: The US accuses Russia of planning fake independence votes in Ukraine as Russian forces intensify assault on eastern provinces, risking escalating conflict.
URL: https://financedigest.com/us-says-russia-plans-fake-independence-votes-in-seized-ukraine-territoryhtml

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By Natalia Zinets

KYIV (Reuters) -The United States accused Russia on Thursday of planning to stage fake independence votes to justify its conquest of territory in Ukraine, as Russian forces stepped up their assault on the east.

More than two months into an invasion that has flattened cities but failed to capture the capital Kyiv, Russia has mounted a push to seize two eastern provinces in a battle the West views as a decisive turning point in the war.

Although [Russian troops were pushed out of northern Ukraine last month](https://www.financedigest.com/russian-services-activity-shrinks-for-third-month-running-in-dec-pmi.html "Russian services activity shrinks for third month running in Dec -PMI"), they are heavily entrenched in the east, and also still hold a swathe of the south that they seized in March.

The U.S. mission to the OSCE [security body said the Kremlin might](https://www.financedigest.com/why-you-might-want-to-wait-until-age-70-to-claim-social-security-benefits.html "Why You Might Want to Wait Until Age 70 to Claim Social Security Benefits") attempt “sham referenda” in southern and eastern areas it had captured since the Feb. 24 invasion, using “a well-worn playbook that steals from history’s darkest chapters”.

These falsified, illegitimate referenda will undoubtedly be accompanied by a wave of abuses against those who [seek to oppose or undermine Moscow’s plans,”](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-seeks-clarification-on-italy-post-covid-plan-freezes-19-billion-euros.html "EU seeks clarification on Italy post-COVID plan, freezes 19 billion euros") it said. “The international community must make clear that any such referendum will never be recognised as legitimate.”

Ukraine said there were explosions overnight in the southern city of Kherson, the only regional capital [Russia has captured so far since the invasion](https://www.financedigest.com/ukraine-asks-for-south-korea-cybersecurity-aid-amid-russia-invasion.html "Ukraine asks for South Korea cybersecurity aid amid Russia invasion"). Russian troops there had used tear gas and stun grenades on Wednesday to suppress pro-Ukrainian crowds, and were now shelling the entire surrounding region and attacking towards Mykolaiv and Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine said.

[Russian state media quoted an official from a self-styled pro-Russian “military-civilian commission” in Kherson on Thursday as saying](https://www.financedigest.com/citigroup-says-will-close-russian-consumer-commercial-business.html "Citigroup says will close Russian consumer, commercial business") the area would start using Russia’s rouble currency from May 1.

[Ukraine’s general staff said Russia](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-action-wanes-at-u-n-to-isolate-russia-almost-six-months-into-ukraine-war.html "Analysis: Action wanes at U.N. to isolate Russia almost six months into Ukraine war") was also stepping up its main military assault in the east, where Moscow now aims to seize all of two provinces partially controlled by separatists since 2014.

“The enemy is increasing the pace of the offensive operation. The Russian occupiers are exerting intense fire in almost all directions,” it said.

It identified Russia’s main attack as near the towns of Slobozhanske and Donets, along a strategic frontline highway linking Ukraine’s second-largest city Kharkiv with the Russian-occupied city of Izyum. The Kharkiv regional governor said Russian forces were intensifying attacks from Izyum, but Ukrainian troops were holding their ground.

[WEST SENDING](https://www.financedigest.com/putin-to-send-doomsday-warning-to-west-at-russias-ww2-victory-parade.html "Putin to send ‘doomsday’ warning to West at Russia’s WW2 victory parade") WEAPONS

[Western countries have ramped up weapons deliveries to Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-russian-gold-removed-from-some-western-funds-after-ukraine.html "Analysis-Russian gold removed from some Western funds after Ukraine") in recent days as the fighting in the east has intensified. More than 40 [countries met this week](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-countries-eye-deal-on-more-energy-measures-within-weeks.html "EU countries eye deal on more energy measures within weeks") at a U.S. air base in Germany and pledged to send heavy arms such as artillery for what is expected to be a vast [battle of opposing armies along a heavily fortified front line](https://www.financedigest.com/poverty-education-levels-draw-battle-lines-in-french-election.html "Poverty, education levels draw battle lines in French election").

Washington now [says it hopes Ukrainian forces](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-says-it-is-committed-to-leading-a-nato-task-force-in-2024.html "Britain says it is committed to leading a NATO task force in 2024") can not only repel Russia’s assault on the east, but also weaken its military so that it can no longer threaten neighbours. [Russia says that amounts to NATO waging “proxy war”](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-sharply-scales-back-far-east-war-games-with-china.html "Russia sharply scales back Far East war games with China") against it, and has made a number of threats this week of unspecified retaliation.

If someone intends to intervene in the ongoing events from the outside, and [create strategic](https://www.financedigest.com/arlington-creates-strategic-partnership-with-pensions-infrastructure-platform.html "Arlington Creates Strategic Partnership With Pensions Infrastructure Platform") threats for Russia that are unacceptable to us, they should know that our retaliatory strikes will be lightning-fast,” President Vladimir Putin told lawmakers in St Petersburg on Wednesday.

“We have all the tools for this, things no one else can boast of having now. And we will not boast, we will use them if necessary. And I want [everyone to know](https://www.financedigest.com/a-beginners-guide-the-trading-terms-everyone-needs-to-know.html "A beginner’s guide – the trading terms everyone needs to know") that.

‘CANCEROUS GROWTH’

British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Putin’s remarks suggesting he would escalate the conflict were a sign of “desperation”. “Having failed in nearly all his objectives” Putin was now seeking to consolidate Russia’s control of occupied territory, acting as a “cancerous growth” inside Ukraine, Wallace said.

When Russian forces were pushed away from Kyiv last month, they [left behind](https://www.financedigest.com/click-and-collect-or-get-left-behind.html "Click and Collect or get left behind") destroyed suburbs strewn with the bodies of hundreds of slain civilians in what Western countries call clear evidence of war crimes. Moscow [denies targeting civilians and says](https://www.financedigest.com/loreal-denies-report-saying-it-suspended-twitter-ad-spending.html "L’Oréal denies report saying it suspended Twitter ad spending"), without evidence, that such signs of suspected atrocities are fake.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres struck an emotional note during a [visit to the formerly Russian-occupied Kyiv suburbs](https://www.financedigest.com/macron-with-eye-on-parliamentary-vote-visits-left-leaning-paris-suburb.html "Macron, with eye on parliamentary vote, visits left-leaning Paris suburb") of Borodyanka and Bucha.

I imagine my [family in one of those homes](https://www.financedigest.com/family-homes-in-colchester-countryside-coming-soon.html "Family Homes In Colchester Countryside Coming Soon"), now destroyed and black. I see my granddaughters running away in panic, part of the family eventually killed,” Guterres told reporters in Borodyanka, surrounded by scorched, windowless apartment blocks.

Innocent civilians were living in these buildings, they were [paying the highest price](https://www.financedigest.com/shell-energy-to-pay-for-overcharging-price-cap-customers-ofgem.html "Shell Energy to pay for overcharging price cap customers -Ofgem") for a war which they have not contributed to at all.

Guterres met [Putin in Moscow on Wednesday on a failed peace](https://www.financedigest.com/putin-says-peace-talks-with-ukraine-are-at-dead-end-goads-the-west.html "Putin says peace talks with Ukraine are at dead end, goads the West") mission. Russia rebuffed the U.N. chief’s offer to help [evacuate Mariupol](https://www.financedigest.com/the-man-who-evacuated-200-people-from-mariupol-in-a-battered-red-van.html "The man who evacuated 200 people from Mariupol in a battered red van"), the besieged port that has been scene of the war’s bloodiest fighting and worst humanitarian catastrophe.

Ukrainian troops are still holed up in a giant steel works in Mariupol. Putin [claimed victory](https://www.financedigest.com/olympics-hockey-netherlands-claim-gold-with-3-1-victory-over-argentina.html "Olympics-Hockey-Netherlands claim gold with 3-1 victory over Argentina") in the city last week, ordering the steel works blockaded. Kyiv [says 100,000 civilians](https://www.financedigest.com/ukraine-says-first-civilians-killed-in-lviv-fighters-cling-on-in-mariupol.html "Ukraine says first civilians killed in Lviv, fighters cling on in Mariupol") are still trapped in the city’s ruins.

“As long as we’re here and holding the defence… the city is not theirs,” Captain Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of Ukraine’s Azov Regiment, told Reuters in video link from an undisclosed location beneath the huge factory.

“The tactic (now) is like a medieval siege. We’re encircled, they are no [longer throwing lots](https://www.financedigest.com/why-fundraising-no-longer-means-kissing-a-lot-of-frogs.html "Why fundraising no longer means kissing a lot of frogs") of forces to break our defensive line. They’re conducting [air strikes.”](https://www.financedigest.com/air-france-cancels-55-of-short-medium-haul-flights-sept-16-due-to-strike.html "Air France cancels 55% of short, medium-haul flights Sept. 16 due to strike")

More than 5 million refugees have fled abroad since [Russia launched its “special military operation”](https://www.financedigest.com/kfc-franchisees-in-russia-ask-govt-to-halt-sale-of-stores-to-local-operator-ria.html "KFC franchisees in Russia ask govt to halt sale of stores to local operator – RIA") in Ukraine on Feb. 24. Moscow says its aim is to disarm its neighbour and defeat nationalists, which the West calls a bogus pretext for a war of aggression.

U.S. [President Joe Biden is expected to deliver remarks on Thursday in support](https://www.financedigest.com/taiwans-president-looks-forward-to-britain-supporting-its-cptpp-bid.html "Taiwan’s President looks forward to Britain supporting its CPTPP bid") of Ukrainians, the White House said.

(Additional [reporting by Reuters](https://www.financedigest.com/indonesia-to-tighten-used-shoe-import-controls-after-reuters-report.html "Indonesia to tighten used shoe import controls after Reuters report") journalists, Writing by Peter Graff, Editing by Angus MacSwan)


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