Russia understands that it will not be able to hold a referendum in the Kherson region, like in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, because the residents are not going to attend it. Therefore, it is preparing another scenario of occupation.
The Head of the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov said this in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda.
"Just at the request of, let's say, the temporary "leadership" of these regions. And they want to call it Kherson Taurida Governorate. So, this is the territory of the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the Kherson region," he said.
Budanov explained that in imperial times the Kherson governorate had its administrative center in Simferopol. This is what the Kremlin now intends to revive.
"And thus, one of the main options that they are now working on is the annexation of the Kherson region to Crimea and becoming part of russia as the Taurida Governorate. They are not interested in people's opinion, absolutely," the head of the MID stressed.
The Kherson region, despite repression by the occupants, does not lose its pro-Ukrainian sentiments and courageously resists the "authorities" of the invaders. Residents come out at pro-Ukrainian rallies and refuse to cooperate with the enemy.