٠٠:٠٥:٣١Note: Music at source may be subject to copyright restrictions
Mass rallies in support of referenda in DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions were held in several cities all over Russia on Friday.
Footage from Grozny, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Saratov and Kazan shows supporters of referenda holding flags and chanting slogans. Several musicians performed on stages during rallies.
The local governments of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as those established in Kherson and Zaporozhye after the regions came under Russian control, announced earlier this week that the voting would take place from September 23-27.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he was ready to support the decisions taken, with his country prepared 'to provide the safe environment' and let the people 'express their will'.
However, on Friday, Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, described the exercise as a 'propaganda show'. President Volodymyr Zelensky himself condemned the 'pseudo-referendum,' while his press secretary Sergei Nikiforov claimed that the action meant there would be no chance of a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan described the votes as 'sham referenda', while President Joe Biden said 'Russia has violated the basic principles of the UN Charter' and had also made 'open nuclear threats against Europe.'
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said their countries would not recognise the results, while EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell claimed those involved in organising them 'will be held accountable.'
Moscow launched the military offensive in Ukraine earlier this year, after recognising the independence of the DPR and LPR.
Russia: Rallies held across country in favour of referenda in DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions
Mass rallies in support of referenda in DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions were held in several cities all over Russia on Friday.
Footage from Grozny, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Saratov and Kazan shows supporters of referenda holding flags and chanting slogans. Several musicians performed on stages during rallies.
The local governments of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as those established in Kherson and Zaporozhye after the regions came under Russian control, announced earlier this week that the voting would take place from September 23-27.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he was ready to support the decisions taken, with his country prepared 'to provide the safe environment' and let the people 'express their will'.
However, on Friday, Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, described the exercise as a 'propaganda show'. President Volodymyr Zelensky himself condemned the 'pseudo-referendum,' while his press secretary Sergei Nikiforov claimed that the action meant there would be no chance of a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan described the votes as 'sham referenda', while President Joe Biden said 'Russia has violated the basic principles of the UN Charter' and had also made 'open nuclear threats against Europe.'
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said their countries would not recognise the results, while EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell claimed those involved in organising them 'will be held accountable.'
Moscow launched the military offensive in Ukraine earlier this year, after recognising the independence of the DPR and LPR.
Note: Music at source may be subject to copyright restrictions
Mass rallies in support of referenda in DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions were held in several cities all over Russia on Friday.
Footage from Grozny, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Saratov and Kazan shows supporters of referenda holding flags and chanting slogans. Several musicians performed on stages during rallies.
The local governments of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as those established in Kherson and Zaporozhye after the regions came under Russian control, announced earlier this week that the voting would take place from September 23-27.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he was ready to support the decisions taken, with his country prepared 'to provide the safe environment' and let the people 'express their will'.
However, on Friday, Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, described the exercise as a 'propaganda show'. President Volodymyr Zelensky himself condemned the 'pseudo-referendum,' while his press secretary Sergei Nikiforov claimed that the action meant there would be no chance of a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan described the votes as 'sham referenda', while President Joe Biden said 'Russia has violated the basic principles of the UN Charter' and had also made 'open nuclear threats against Europe.'
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said their countries would not recognise the results, while EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell claimed those involved in organising them 'will be held accountable.'
Moscow launched the military offensive in Ukraine earlier this year, after recognising the independence of the DPR and LPR.