Meduza: Russia to postpone ‘referendums’ in occupied territories of Ukraine ‘indefinitely’

Russia’s authorities have postponed “referendums” on joining Russia in the occupied regions of Ukraine “indefinitely” due to Ukraine’s successful counteroffensive, Meduza cites its sources close to the Kremlin.

Political strategists who worked in the regions of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia and supervised the referendum preparations have returned to Russia.

“We made a run for it after receiving an order to return home,” they said.

Those strategists in the Kherson region are still there, Meduza’s sources say.

Secretary of the General Council of the United Russia party Andrey Turchak announced on 7 September that referendums in the occupied territories would be held on 4 November, Russia’s National Unity Day. It was planned that the occupation authorities of those territories would announce referendum dates next week, but now this has been postponed indefinitely, Meduza’s sources say.