The public chambers of the so-called " LPR " and " DPR " demanded to immediately initiate referendums on the entry of the "republics" into Russia. Also, the pro-Russian representative of the occupying power of Kherson Stremousov asked for a referendum.
Residents of the Kherson region want to hold a referendum as soon as possible in order to get guarantees for the region to join the Russian Federation, Stremousov told RIA Novosti. In the "DPR" they justified their desire by the fact that they want to see the border of Russia between the "republic" and Ukraine.
In the "LNR", the need for immediate "referenda" was explained by the "difficult situation" and the fact that the inhabitants of the republic "made their choice back in 2014". “Joining Russia will not only be a triumph of historical justice, but will also secure the territory of the republic, open up new opportunities for the revival and restoration of the power of our region,” representatives of the so-called public chamber told the “leaders of the republic.”
However, an hour later, the chairman of the “public chamber”, Alexei Karyakin, on the air of Rossiya-24, gave up, saying that “you understand very well” this is “a matter of more than one day”, “today it is necessary to calculate absolutely all the necessary work to organize a referendum on territories of the republic – we will build on this”.
Propagandist Margarita Simonyan, after the statement of the public chamber of the "LPR" in her Telegram channel, hinted that after holding "referendums" in the territories occupied by Russia, the Russian Federation would be able to threaten Ukraine with the use of weapons of mass destruction in the event of an attack on them. “Today is a “referendum”, tomorrow – recognition as part of the Russian Federation, the day after tomorrow – strikes on Russian territory become a full-fledged war between Ukraine and NATO with Russia, untying Russia’s hands in all respects,” she wrote.
Russia completely captured the Luhansk region in early July. Shortly thereafter, the Public Chamber of the LPR announced the creation of an initiative group to prepare a "referendum", but these proposals did not lead to anything. As early as August 10, the head of the “LPR” Leonid Pasechnik stated that a “referendum” was possible only after the Russians captured the entire territory of the Donetsk region.
On September 18, the Ukrainian military liberated the village of Belogorivka in the Lugansk region. This is one of the most important settlements for the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The village is located just 10 km from Lisichansk, which, in turn, opens the way to the "LNR".
Military expert Roman Svitan, in a conversation with The Insider , said that now four sections can be distinguished at the front, each of which has a different dynamics. One of them is Lugansky, it does not move and goes from Liman to Valuyki, along Oskol. On this site, Russian troops are holding a second line.