Russia's Snap Referendums In Ukraine Begin

Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya regions - four territories in Ukraine occupied by Russian forces - started holding snap referendums on Friday on joining Russia. The referendum vote will run until Sept 27. The vote on annexation will be used by Putin in an attempt to demonstrate that these territories desire to be part of Russia and are indeed “Russian”, which will justify greater use of force following Russia's defeat in Kharkiv at the hands of Ukrainian forces. Violent clashes that started…