INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
soon after invading Ukraine in late February.Kyiv has since accused Moscow of plotting sham independence referendums in the occupied regions
of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia to officially annex the area.Ukrainian officials have previously floated Sept
11, when several Russian regions will be holding regional elections, as a likely referendum date.Moscow has repeatedly claimed that it will
not occupy Ukrainian territories, despite sending troops into the country on Feb
controls in southern Ukraine.Russian lawmakers havesaid a referendum could take place as early as July.Kremlin-backed officials in eastern
Ukraine's breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk have also expressed interest in joining Russia.
