I don't think they'll recognize it as Russian territory and will disregard the referendums.

dtkprowler said:

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Not a single western country that has supplied aid to Ukraine is going to bat an eye at a sham referendum. Their aid is already blowing up russians. They know that. Russia knows that. A fake referendum will have zero affect.

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I was thinking about this "vote" this morning and was initially perplexed. Like did they really think that any one in the world would be like, "welp, you got us. we were going to storm in and push you out through violent force but since you voted and said pretty please, we will let you keep the portion of the sovereign country you just invaded"

but now i think this would really just be done to help sell their internal propaganda. probably makes the charade easier to continue selling that this is really about helping people who are really Russians and want to be a part of Russia but only aren't due to the aggression of Uke Nazis. The state media can now hold up this vote as evidence supporting their tale to people who only see the news that Russia gives them.

dtkprowler said:

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Not a single western country that has supplied aid to Ukraine is going to bat an eye at a sham referendum. Their aid is already blowing up russians. They know that. Russia knows that. A fake referendum will have zero affect.

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I dont disagree with your opinion of the western response.

I really wonder what Russia will try to get away with and justify through these sham referendums

Russia managed to take a substation in the Donetsk region, near Bakhmut.

@GeoConfirmed
Russian forces on the premises of the substation "Донбасська 750 кВ" at 48.561346, 38.088307 in Vesela Dolyna, Donetsk Oblast.https://t.co/tCVticVDbO pic.twitter.com/Kfe1Uhgzw3

— Arvelleg (@Arvelleg1) September 19, 2022

Even if Russia mobilizes (I think deploying currently serving conscripts is more likely), almost all of these factors still favor Ukraine, including over the medium to long-term. A large number of poorly trained and motivated soldiers isn't a huge advantage. https://t.co/dwyqujM1ol

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) September 20, 2022

Ukraine has an advantage in:
-manpower
-learning lessons
-interior lines
-command and control/leadership
-clearer strategic goals
-precision fires
-morale
-ability to strike behind Russian lines (partisans)
-training volunteers
Many of these will grow over time. I'm optimistic. https://t.co/ZX3CcbGN8p

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) September 19, 2022

⚡️ Ukrainian military may push Russian troops in the Luhansk region back to positions on February 23 until the end of 2022, says Ben Hodges.

Hodges also expects Ukrainian defenders to de-occupy Crimea until mid-2023.

👉 Follow @Flash_news_ua

— FLASH (@Flash_news_ua) September 20, 2022

JUST IN - Russia's Putin and Defense Minister Shoigu are expected to address the nation tonight, according to Kremlin pool reporters.

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) September 20, 2022

Quote:

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Russian military attempted to destroy a dam in Pechenihy without success, - General Staff of Armed Forces of Ukraine

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https://liveuamap.com/en/2022/20-september-russian-military-attempted-to-destroy-a-dam

This is in the Kharkiv region. Wish I could take a screenshot of the map right now, as it looks to be an important crossing at a big reservoir.

I'm torn.

Wouldn't be that hard to hit the voting sites so no vote happens.

Then again, is that just playing into Russian hands and killing "civilians".

Agthatbuilds said:

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aggiehawg said:

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JUST IN - Russia's Putin and Defense Minister Shoigu are expected to address the nation tonight, according to Kremlin pool reporters.

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) September 20, 2022

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My bet is they are gonna call for a full mobilization pending the referendum results and tell the Russian people the new Russian citizens are begging for their help to push out the nazi invaders

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Yep. Or say "look at this "poll," the people of Ukraine want to be a part of Russia. They're Russian now! Ukraine is attacking Russian land!"

Waffledynamics said:

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Quote:

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Russian military attempted to destroy a dam in Pechenihy without success, - General Staff of Armed Forces of Ukraine

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https://liveuamap.com/en/2022/20-september-russian-military-attempted-to-destroy-a-dam

This is in the Kharkiv region. Wish I could take a screenshot of the map right now, as it looks to be an important crossing at a big reservoir.

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That's really close to Kharkiv itself. Probably need to move some air defenses a little closer that way.

I'm kind of surprised they haven't pressed the attack in the northeast. It almost seems like they've essentially paused for the time being.

It would seem pressing the attack and taking key crossroads of Svatove and Starobilsk would do more damage to the east by cutting off reinforcements and supplies than taking it head on .

AgLA06 said:

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I'm torn.

Wouldn't be that hard to hit the voting sites so no vote happens.

Then again, is that just playing into Russian hands and killing "civilians".

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I wouldn't doubt that they've already had a sham vote and have the results to share tonight. Nobody is really going to believe it anyways.

pretty cool video shows them using drones for tank recon, then pounding it with artillery. It was on a telegram channel, so I'm unsure how to best post the link.

https://t.me/ukr_pics/6321

Here is another video posted on Telegram. A bunch of Russians get in an armored carrier and drive off. Driver sees two APC already destroyed and decided to drive between them, right on top of a mine. Kaboom.

Bad decision dude.

https://t.me/c/1503764943/345164

According to Russian media Speaker of the Federation Council of Russian Federation Matvienko on the question "will there be a mobilisation?", replied "Do you think we need it?"

Also according to the White House, there is information that Putin could move with mobilisation

— Liveuamap (@Liveuamap) September 20, 2022

Russian President Putin is reportedly expected to Address the Nation later today regarding the referendums being proposed in the Occupied Regions of Ukraine on joining the Russian Federation, some Sources are also Claiming that some form of General Mobilization may be announced. pic.twitter.com/JInzW713Xz

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) September 20, 2022

At this point what does Russia have left in bulk? They're already losing T90Ms.

Not sure the volume they have left to commit, or that be relocating troops from elsewhere this won't cause other local uprisings

They are playing for international arbitration that gives them something to get "peace".

MouthBQ98 said:

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They are playing for international arbitration that gives them something to get "peace".

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Can you expand on that?

Vladimir Putin now in a meeting with bosses of the military-industrial complex, urges them to boost production of weapons and ammo, “urgently” supply the armed forces and ensure “100% import substitution in this sector” pic.twitter.com/rgz6TnOg1m

— Mary Ilyushina (@maryilyushina) September 20, 2022

Keep in mind also that Russia claims that they own Crimea, and the world disagrees. They did not throw WMDs in response to the attacks there.

MouthBQ98 said:

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They are playing for international arbitration that gives them something to get "peace".

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Not gonna get it if no one recognizes the referendum

dtkprowler said:

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Haven't Ukes already bombed Belgorod or whatever it is within Russian territory?

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I think it's been chalked up to partisans, but yes, ukes have attacked inside Russia. The big red line is western weapons vs Ukrainian weapons hitting inside Russian territory.

Russian-installed officials in Zaporizhzhia say they intend to leave Ukraine and join Russia on behalf of the entire province.

That includes the city of Zaporizhzhia itself, which had a pre-war population of 750,000 – and which is controlled Ukrainehttps://t.co/ouyhgfY5am

— max seddon (@maxseddon) September 20, 2022

There was at least one helicopter strike in Russia by Ukraine early on

"Possession is nine-tenths of the law."

Not absolute, but still largely true. Ukraine understands this, which is why it is desperate to preempt these farcical referendums to avoid Russia gaining even a thin veneer of cynical legitimacy for continued aggression. We've seen repeatedly how Russia can milk even the most blatant lie to curry domestic support--which it will need in order to justify mobilization.

MOBILIZATION