Russian occupiers recruit collaborators to stage ‘referendum rallies’ – intelligence

The relevant statement was made by the Main Intelligence Directorate at the Ukrainian Defense Ministry on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“In the temporarily occupied major population centers in the south of Zaporizhzhia Region, the representative of [Russian] occupation authorities are looking for collaborators who will create a ‘crowd scene’ at the so-called ‘unprompted rallies’ in support of the referendum. The representatives of occupation authorities believe this will defuse dissatisfaction with the war. This will also allow them to make a necessary TV picture for Russian citizens. In particular, Russian specialists were spotted arriving in Melitopol to hold PR campaigns,” the report states.

The working headquarters of such representatives opened in the seized premises of the Foxtrot store. In addition, a recruiting center for those willing to collaborate with Russian occupation authorities opened in Berdiansk. However, there are very few of those, even though Russian occupiers offer significant ‘financial incentives’. In order to produce pictures for the Kremlin TV channels, Russian invaders have to bring ‘activists’ from the temporarily occupied Crimea.

A reminder that about 400,000 Ukrainians have left the temporarily occupied areas via Zaporizhzhia since the Russian invasion started.