A couple of things I don't understand. One question for which I posted early in this thread but got a confusing answer. Can someone shed light on this? I've followed this invasion throughout, but am uncertain of the genuine inhabitation situation along the eastern border.
(1) The original separatist movement in the Donbas which initiated the military stand off for years. Did they hold an election (referendum?) to ask whether the mainly Russian speaking inhabitants wanted to stay part of the Ukraine or gravitate to Russia? There was, I think, a largely ridiculed vote in the Crimea in '14 where an overwhelming % wanted to come under Russian influence (prob. changed now, even if valid then).
(2) Will the projected referenda in the other 4 occupied areas be monitored by ligit. overseers or done the Russian way? As Putin claims that a favourable referendum would lead to annexation, thus giving him supposed authority to claim attacks on 'Russian' territory, would this not be an illegal and therefore unrecognised act according to globally accepted or enshrined protocols?
I believe in people having precedence over territory, and I wonder if there are parts of the Ukraine which genuinely and legally voted to secede from the Ukraine, as that, to my mind and if so, puts a different perspective on this whole affair.