Of the four regions where the supposed referendums are being held, it is the one where Russian control is most absolute, but at the cost of heavy military casualties.
Four regions of Ukraine, under the control — in full or in part — of Russia’s armed forces, on Tuesday they complete the “referendums” on their annexation to the Russian Federation, condemned by Kyiv and the international community. Here are some key facts about them.
Of the four regions where the supposed referendums are being held, it is the one where Russian control is most absolute, but at the cost of heavy military casualties.
Lugansk and Donetsk
The two predominantly Russian-speaking regions make up Donbas, Ukraine’s industrial heartland. From 2014 to 2022, the conflict between separatists seen in the West as being led by Moscow and the Ukrainian armed forces was already raging in them.
In February 2022, Vladimir Putin recognized their independence and justified his country’s military invasion of Ukrainian territory on February 24 citing the need to save the Russian-speaking Ukrainian population from alleged genocide by Kyiv.
Before the war, Lugansk region had around 2.1 million inhabitants. Three sides of it border Russia and, as the Ukrainian authorities admit, 98% of its territory is under Moscow’s control.
After a Ukrainian counteroffensive was launched in early September, much of the neighboring Kharkiv region was liberated, and Ukrainian troops also regained some territory in Lugansk.
Neighboring Donetsk Oblast, where a vote is also being held, had 4.1 million residents before the war. Its eponymous capital was the third largest city in Ukraine.
Before the Russian invasion, about half was under separatist control. Today, about 67% of its territory is controlled by Moscow and its allies, especially the port of Mariupol, which suffered massive destruction in the siege of Russian troops.
The deadly battles continue. According to Kyiv, Ukrainian forces have made some progress this month.
Zaporizhia
In this area, which is washed by the Black Sea, the largest nuclear power plant in the country – and in Europe – is located on the Dnieper River. Before the war, it had 1.63 million inhabitants.
Correspondingly, of the four regions where referendums are held, this is the one where Russia’s control is less (63%).
Its largest city, also called Zaporizhia, is controlled by Ukrainian forces, but its largest port, Berdyansk, is in the hands of Russian troops.
The giant nuclear plant has also been under the control of the Russian military since March. Since then the warring sides have blamed each other for the bombing of the facility which could cause a major nuclear disaster. Calls for the demilitarization of the facility have multiplied, but to no avail so far.
Kherson
About 83% of this district, the westernmost one controlled by Moscow, including its capital of the same name, was occupied by Russian forces in the first days of the war.
The region, extremely important for Ukrainian agriculture, is of strategic importance to Moscow as it neighbors the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
Its capture, like that of Donetsk and Zaporizhia, allows for continuity between all the regions it has seized in Ukraine, including Crimea, and Russian territory itself.
Ukraine is conducting a counter-offensive there and in recent months has reported some successes. He damaged bridges connecting one bank of the Dnieper to the other around the city of Kherson to cut supply lines to Russian forces. Moreover, attacks against Russian and pro-Russian officials there have multiplied and several of them have been killed.
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I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
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