Russia may be preparing “false referendums” in “mid-May” to try to annex the self-proclaimed pro-Russian separatist republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, and other areas, a US diplomat warned today, pointing to “very credible” information.

“According to the latest information, we believe that Russia will try to annex the People’s Republic of Donetsk and the People’s Republic of Lugansk,” said US Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Michael Carpenter.

Speaking to journalists, the diplomat added that this information shows “that Russia intends to ‘fabricate’ referendums in mid-May”.

“Moscow is considering a similar project for Kherson”, a Ukrainian coastal city currently controlled by Russian forces.

Source: With Agencies