Russian forces use food as blackmail to get people in Luhansk region to vote in staged referendum

Invading Russian forces demand personal data from locals and force them to take part in a staged referendum in exchange for water, food, and building materials in the Luhansk region

This was announced by the head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, Serhii Haidai, on Telegram.

According to him, the Russians actually destroyed Lysychansk, Severodonetsk, Popasna, Rubizhne, Hirske, Zolote, and the settlements of these communities. Hundreds of thousands of people were left without homes, 90% of them were evacuated. Many of those who remain live in basements and storage rooms. 

The Russian invaders have already activated the "campaign and explanatory component" of preparations for the pseudo-referendum on the occupation of the Luhansk region by Russia.

"Under the guise of providing food or building materials, the occupying authorities and the collaborating public movement are organizing meetings with the population of the recently seized territories of the region. They are extorting personal data, urging them to go to the so-called referendum, forcing people to exchange their will for food, drinking water, and OSB boards", Serhii Haidai concluded.