Day 216: Last Day of Referenda Voting; Suspicious Leaks Discovered from Nord Stream Pipelines

Facts

• Voting in Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine is set to conclude on Tuesday, as Western governments continue to dismiss the referenda on annexation as a sham. Some reports have suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin may announce the annexation of the areas, which account for 15% of Ukraine's total territory, on Friday.
• The UK announced 92 new sanctions on Tues. in response to Russia’s plebiscites. The package of penalties targets those behind the voting - including some officials installed during Russian occupation - as well as oligarchs and board members.
• In other news, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has reaffirmed that Russia has the right to use nuclear weapons if the country is seriously threatened. A post he made on the social media site Telegram stated: "I have to remind you again ... Russia has the right to use nuclear weapons if necessary."
• Also on Tuesday, Swedish and Danish authorities discovered gas leaks originating from the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, two Russian gas pipelines running under the Baltic Sea near the two Scandinavian nations. Though it is too early to draw definitive conclusions, European officials said the damage could have been deliberate. Neither pipeline was pumping gas to Europe at the time the leaks were found.
• Elsewhere, Georgian officials announced on Tuesday that the number of Russians crossing the border into Georgia every day has doubled since Putin announced a partial troop mobilization last week. Georgia’s Interior Minister said, “four to five days ago 5,000-6,000 (Russians) were arriving in Georgia daily. The number has grown to some 10,000 per day.”
• Meanwhile, in Ukraine, Russia has upped its attacks against Odesa, mainly relying on suicide drones that Ukrainian officials say are Iranian Shahed-136s. Ukrainian officials also reported that five attacks have occurred in recent days, with one hitting an undisclosed military target in the southern region of the country on Monday morning. Iran denies supplying Russia with the equipment.

Sources: BBC News, Guardian, CNBC, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.

Narratives

• Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by The Guardian. The referenda being held in the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine are a brazen exercise in propaganda. Russia has no right to essentially annex any Ukrainian territory, and these votes are completely illegitimate. Thankfully, the results will have no impact on the ground or on Ukraine's resolve.
• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by Tass. It has always been the key priority - for the whole of Russian society - to liberate the people in oppressed territories in Ukraine. These transparent and democratic referendums will likely soon result in the reunification of the DPR and other areas with Russia.

Predictions