<p>Ukrainian officials on Saturday accused Russia of planning a fake referendum on creating a pro-Moscow "people's republic" in the southern Black Sea city of Kherson.</p>.<p>Russian forces seized the port city, which has a population of 290,000 people, on March 3 following a three-day siege. It was the first major city to fall following Moscow's invasion.</p>.<p>"Russians now desperately try to organise a sham 'referendum' for a fake 'people's republic' in Kherson," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.</p>.<p>Due to "zero popular support", such a referendum "will be fully staged", he added.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/ukraine-says-seven-killed-including-a-child-after-russia-fired-at-evacuation-convoy-1090752.html" target="_blank">7, including child, killed in Russian firing: Ukraine</a></strong></p>.<p>"Severe sanctions against Russia must follow if they proceed. Kherson is & will always be Ukraine," the minister added.</p>.<p>Kuleba drew a parallel with Russia's annexation of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in 2014, when it held a referendum on joining Russia after deploying troops there.</p>.<p>The Kherson plan was following a "2014 playbook", Kuleba said.</p>.<p>Ukraine's ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova wrote on Telegram that Russian occupying forces were phoning lawmakers from the local legislature, asking them to vote for the plan.</p>.<p>Denisova said such a referendum would be illegal on the occupied territory, since under Ukrainian law any issues over territory can only be resolved by a nationwide referendum.</p>.<p><strong>Watch latest videos by DH here:</strong></p>
<p>Ukrainian officials on Saturday accused Russia of planning a fake referendum on creating a pro-Moscow "people's republic" in the southern Black Sea city of Kherson.</p>.<p>Russian forces seized the port city, which has a population of 290,000 people, on March 3 following a three-day siege. It was the first major city to fall following Moscow's invasion.</p>.<p>"Russians now desperately try to organise a sham 'referendum' for a fake 'people's republic' in Kherson," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.</p>.<p>Due to "zero popular support", such a referendum "will be fully staged", he added.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/ukraine-says-seven-killed-including-a-child-after-russia-fired-at-evacuation-convoy-1090752.html" target="_blank">7, including child, killed in Russian firing: Ukraine</a></strong></p>.<p>"Severe sanctions against Russia must follow if they proceed. Kherson is & will always be Ukraine," the minister added.</p>.<p>Kuleba drew a parallel with Russia's annexation of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in 2014, when it held a referendum on joining Russia after deploying troops there.</p>.<p>The Kherson plan was following a "2014 playbook", Kuleba said.</p>.<p>Ukraine's ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova wrote on Telegram that Russian occupying forces were phoning lawmakers from the local legislature, asking them to vote for the plan.</p>.<p>Denisova said such a referendum would be illegal on the occupied territory, since under Ukrainian law any issues over territory can only be resolved by a nationwide referendum.</p>.<p><strong>Watch latest videos by DH here:</strong></p>