Rigged referendum in Kherson will not help Russia achieve its political goals in Ukraine - British intel

According to Ukrinform, the UK Ministry of Defense said this in its latest intelligence update published on Twitter.

According to the ministry, the Russian-imposed military-civilian administration in Kherson announced they will ask Russia to include the Kherson region in the Russian Federation.

A central part of Russia's original invasion plan was highly likely to use rigged referendums to place the majority of Ukraine's regions under long-term pro-Russian authority, the ministry said.

"If Russia carries out an accession referendum in Kherson, it will almost certainly manipulate the results to show a clear majority in favor of leaving Ukraine," the statement said.

But citizens in the Kherson region are likely to continue to demonstrate their opposition to Russian occupation.

The fact that Russia has only succeeded in imposing a pro-Russian local leadership in Kherson highlights the failure of Russia's invasion to make progress towards its political objectives in Ukraine, the ministry said.

On February 24, Russia launched a new stage of its war against Ukraine - a full-scale invasion. Russian invaders are shelling and bombing cities, towns and villages in Ukraine, torturing and killing civilians.