The Security Service of Ukraine received Russian documents related to the pseudo-referendum in Kherson Oblast

The Security Service of Ukraine received Russian documents regarding holding a fake referendum on the accession of the temporarily occupied Kherson Oblast to Russia, reports the SSU press service.

According to the SSU, the Russian occupiers developed the concept of preparation for the "referendum" and set the deadlines for preparatory works. For example, by July 15, a "technical description of the premises in which the election commissions will be located" was to be carried out in the occupied territory. However, there is no final voting date yet.

According to available information, the main role in the organization and holding of the pseudo-referendum is planned to be given to the pro-Kremlin organization "Volunteers for Russia" ("Volontery za Rossyiu"). Under the supervision of the Russian special services, the organization's members must travel around the region and imitate the support of the occupiers by local residents, as well as help in filming propaganda stories for Russian TV channels.

In general, according to the SBU, "volunteers" plan to organize more than 140 simultaneous pro-Russian rallies, more than 30 of them in Kherson. Propaganda media and bloggers should cover these campaigns.

In addition, the representatives of the occupation administration had to approve the composition of the "election commissions" under the leadership of local collaborators until August 1. To increase electoral support, the occupiers plan to distribute food kits and SIM cards of Russian mobile operators. However, according to the intercepts, the collaborators report to the Russian curators that the people of Kherson do not support the idea of ​​joining Russia and are actively resisting.

The SSU also stated that they had already identified and established the whereabouts of all collaborators and their curators from the Russian Federation involved in the organization of the pseudo-referendum. An investigation into the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine is currently underway.

Ukrainian law enforcement officers also identified 26 collaborators who joined the "Main Office of Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kherson Oblast ."There are 14 former policemen among its members.

Background

In April, Ukrainian intelligence reported that the occupiers were about to vote in a "referendum" on creating the pseudo-republic of the People's Republic of Kherson and recognizing the occupying power. For this purpose, bulletins, forms, brochures, posters, and booklets were allegedly printed in the occupied territory.

But despite the occupation, the spread of disinformation and propaganda, and efforts to introduce Russian currency into the region, local residents went out to protest against a pseudo-referendum. The vote never took place.

Later, the occupiers and collaborators changed their rhetoric and began actively talking about a "referendum" on joining Russia. The former head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Hennadii Lahuta, said that the occupiers wanted to prepare a "referendum" on joining the Russian Federation by autumn.