Ukrainian resistance in Kherson could undermine Kremlin's plan to create 'people's republic' – Ukrainian intelligence

The Main Intelligence Directorate at Ukraine's Ministry of Defense shared details on Facebook.

Main Intelligence Directorate spokesperson Vadym Skibitsky said that Russian President Vladimir Putin would go all-out to hold a "referendum" in the Kherson region.

"He will present this as one of the Russian occupation forces’ victories in Ukraine. The next referenda may be in Zaporizhzhya and Odesa regions. This is Putin's strategy, which he is trying to implement on the territory of the independent states of the former Soviet Union", he added.

The Main Intelligence Directorate notes that Russian tactics in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine involves establishing strict control over the area using law enforcement agencies and by appointing placemen to key positions in local authorities who can be relied on to follow all the Kremlin’s instructions. 

However, pockets of resistance and the active involvement of Ukrainian citizens in these temporarily occupied areas have the potential to disrupt both the referendum and Russia’s broader plans to create a Kherson “People’s Republic”.