"This Is Nothing, But Plain Military Occupation": Podoliak about So-Called “Referendums” in Russia-Seized Territories

Russia-controlled territories of Ukraine must be liberated by military force. There are no international institutions, no international law within these territories, and everything Russia does there is a war crime, as Mykhailo Podoliak, the Adviser to the Head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office said in his interview for BBC Ukraine.

"I think that these (so-called referendums – ed.) are nothing, but a usual element of Russian propaganda. There are no “DPR” and “LPR” republics. They are fakes. The only thing we actually have is Ukrainian territory seized by the Russian troops. Therefore, the word “referendum” sounds like a nonsense in the context of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk regions. There won’t be and couldn’t be any referendums. So we don’t have to repeat these narratives. Let me stress it once again: this is nothing else, but military occupation. They are invaders who abuse people, throw them into torture basements, murder civilians and set up filtration camps”, Podoliak stressed. 

The Adviser to the Head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office also stressed that there was no referendum in Crimea. Crimea is a territory seized by Russian military, and the word must treat it accordingly. 

"So let’s refrain from playing their propagandist games and let’s call the things the proper names: these territories are seized. Seized territories must be liberated by military force. Everything Russia is going there is a war crime. Period", he emphasized.

Podoliak added, that “referendum” on “integration” of Kherson Region with Russia is out of the question.

"Let me repeat it once again. There won’t be any voter percentage. There couldn’t be any percentage for non-existent referendum. They can put there any figure. They can put there 146% without even counting the votes. Well, they will create a media picture with three of four voting committees, they will claim they have 146%, 179%, 99,9% votes in their support  – (we - ed.) see no sense in playing their games”, he said.

According to Podoliak, the guerrilla movement should annihilate everything and everyone involved in collaboration, including the people who have knowingly accepted the duties at invasion administration. 

"As for informational campaign, we should do whatever it takes in order to let these people know that these events are totally illegal. This voting is not and will not be ever recognized. We are considering only military de-occupation. Let me stress it, since this is a very important point: if we want to end this war as soon as possible, the de-occupation operation should be focused not just on pushing them away, but on inflicting maximum losses of enemy personnel”, he summarized.

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