ah ah ah ah, this is dw news lie from berlin annexation votes began in russian held regions of ukraine's. western pirates have called the referendums, a sham. they say russia will fix the i've come to justify their illegal occupation of ukrainian territory. across the front lines,

a city liberated but in ruins, ukraine's army recently pushed russian forces out of copy, ask we report on how people there are coping with the aftermath. also coming up around president, vice to investigate the death of a woman arrested by the country's morality police. that's done lyft to quell public outrage as protests turn into an open challenge against the government. and south africa is energy crisis, crumbling, infrastructure has been causing electricity cuts for years. but now the blackouts are lasting longer. if you look at have sex, africans are cope. ah, i'm pablo foliage. welcome to the program. they're being called sham referendums. russian installed authorities, new cranes,

east have begun holding votes on joining russia. the so called referendums are being held in areas that make up 15 percent of ukrainian territory. but they're also taking place in the middle of a war zone. a strike outside one polling station in russian occupied and ask overnight left. 6 people dead, programmed and separatists blamed ukrainian forces. while the voting is expected to last several days and result in the regions annexation by moscow, ukraine and western government say they won't recognize the outcome. 6 o russian residents of done yet, sc, celebrate in mid february after russia recognized the ukranian region as an independent state, days before russia began its war. people here thought the declaration would bring peace, that the origin see law, which it's very important for all of us. that piece will finally come to our republic and to lu hands. can we just want peace and call me that you close that

neither because the easy, the intricacies, but conflict escalated after russian president vladimir putin. you signed up to support the separatists and used to their claims of oppression as grounds for an invasion. now moscow, back to officials and for regions as seeking not just recognition, but annexation votes on whether to join russia will take place in occupied her son zap or asia. lou hans and don. yet sc pots of which have been held by separatists since 2014, when crimea was seized by russia following a so called referendum, kremlin installed leaders in the regions raced to announce their ballots days off. the ukrainian troops recaptured sways the eastern territory. they've been preparing for months signing up residence as russian citizens in lieu hands. cuz some see, devote as

a way out of war and deprivation loan. that will. yeah. will man, i think the referendum will be for the best. we're here that, that yeah, that there will be water and electricity get the when people will feel like they are and a native land you. you wouldn't submit your what mattered no jim lee. but for those who fled to ukrainian held parts of zappa's asia, the votes are a sham. what though, it's a violation of international law? it's a fake task to show that occupied territories want to join the russian federation, which is a total lie. the ballot papers are printed, but there's no question that the outcome will entrench the conflict. or let's bring in our dw russia analyst, roman gun shy ranko, who joins us from our studio in bon roman. good to see you. so what is russia

actually aiming to achieve? with the so called referendums, but there is one big aim of russian president vladimir putin, which is to destroy and does integrate ukraine and the so called a friend of there are just a m, a tool and instrument for that. ah, annexation was planned from the very beginning of this military campaign, i think. and russia was trying and planning it in autumn right now. maybe to up to a different time. but russia had to act swiftly because ukraine could. i do a very successful counter offense offensive in the hockey region in the north of ukraine. and this is where there will be no holding. no, no, so called your friend on no annexation. this is a terry russia last. so it is in a hurry right now, but he's very important for russia to make those adults are so called are friend,

look like, not look like an occupation. that is why it is also important to stage all those to show like, like, it's not russia occupying ukraine, it's people who live there, they want to joined russia. this is the narrative. and of course, last but not least, i think it also, it is also some kind of a birthday present for russia's president vladimir putin. cooper, john 70 on october, the 7th. and this is something that so many experts in the west and the industry itself has been saying from the very beginning, ukraine should be kind of a birthday cake for vladimir putin. but this cake, m has gotten smaller in the past few weeks. and that's why russia is in a hurry roman, let's talk a little bit about the legitimacy of these are so called referendums, is russia actually doing anything to make them even appear legitimate? of course, i'm from the very beginning. i'm, let's remember how it was in crimea in 2014, no, russia,

i'm occupied the territory. i didn't say that those were russian soldiers, but the people who decided people who voted for joining russia or ukrainians leaving their ukraine and politicians pro russian politicians are the same. here. we have figures who are ukrainians, have ukranian passports, and who have been installed by russia in the occupied regions in the south of ukraine in the san region owns a breeze region in the east of ukraine. invasion of the nat scorned la hans. there are also ukrainians who was installed there earlier by the rush in the years before . so russia is trying to do this. but it is also trying to, to set a stage. i like it was a normal and normal voting. i would say there are pulling stations, or you can see videos of people waving russian flags, sing how happy they are to vote for joining russia. so the media are also playing

a very important role. and of course, russia will be trying to say that there are international observers who can confirm that everything was according to law or local law. i would say, of course, it is not according to ukrainian law. it is not allowed in ukraine to conduct such referenda. but we do not know any names of any foreigners who are there at the moment, but we can assure, be sure that there are some thank you, roman d, w, russia, and list roman gunter anchor. while dw correspondent ne conley is in the eastern and ukrainian city of khakis and earlier, he told us how people on the ukrainian side viewed the vote being staged in russian . how territory. why here in fact, even you crank and control territory, it isn't really much of a topic. people here are basically resigned to this being

a foregone conclusion. they don't see it really change anything. they're definitely not going to see their government changing its behavior. and somehow leaving off trying to regain these areas, just because russia claims that this is now russian held tertiary. we've even heard some russian leaders kind of talking about the numbers that they expect to happen, the seeming a hinting at what the result is going to be. even before people go to the polls as the people on the ground in crush dock thought ukraine. we can't get there, we busy not be able to get lessons 2014 since russia stoked though separatist campaigns in the east there. so what we can see on social media is not a huge amount in the way of enthusiasm. not a lot of discussion of these votes, this type of sites as for what people in the ground is saying, why it is not a lot of incentive people that are actually asked difficult questions of dusso and public. so you do occasionally, his people talking about the hope that this is going to mean an end to fighting around them, but a lot, but that doesn't really seem like this is something that is really occupying people's minds right now. rights are difficult conditions for the people there. so

now you've been to recently liberated areas. howard the residents coping. they're really depends. the fact your region is huge, but if you go closer with the front lines where we were city of coupons it, we had believed going into this trip that actually the ukrainians controlled more church around the town than it actually turned out to be the case. and people there who previously actually had basically been kind of slightly off the radar in a place where there was not a fighting. now in the midst of fighting without gas, without electricity, without power. and in a pretty difficult situation with constant shelling. let's have a look at what life is like in coupons. russia is here to stay. that was the slogan just a matter of weeks ago here in coupons, as russian officials handed out passports. and he and the russian flag came down faster than any one could have imagined. but the russian army hasn't gone far. in fact, you can hear it's artillery every few minutes. a few kilometers away. even before the shilling stops at cranium, prosecutors, a fine coming. what remains of this police station,

where russian troops had their base looking for evidence of potential war crimes love which also look this up with blood. so right now we're collecting evidence brought the more law. some of the things we're looking for can be lost over time. that i'm with them go or that i am working with k, but we're looking for dna traces mother should fingerprints diligence and also document 2nd. well, i am, let me show the home of thought that the russian departure was so hasty investigator tells us. many of the soldiers left everything behind even their passports. out on the streets, grain troops out number the locals. many residents took the 1st opportunity to evacuate. let's ukrainian forces returned those that remain. keep a low profile. tell us the fighting seems to be getting worse. on come up with the helicopter. we heard of ahead was not ukrainian as everyone around us. it assumed it was russian.

ah, who had to come in now in a hurry move away from windows, racing that could be destroyed, could explode, and allow way to see what's happening. this is the route to here and foot lines. this is cartoon is controlled by ukraine, but there is still constant threat of rational correlation and there's no cincy of that life was returning to normal in any sense to what many locals life is actually getting harder and practical terms. recent shelling this scene and lose 1st power than running water. and now guess you could. yeah, we've know where to go. our parents are gone and the situation isn't much better where my sister is in harkey for as long as our apartment block is still standing. will stay, but it's not heating or water. the people here miss most, it's mobile phone coverage. hottest thing ludmilla tells us is not being able to check up on family. come on out of sometimes service comes back long enough to say a couple of words to each other. make it a virtue endocrine together. more than ashley speaking. yes, it is

a fact. my husband has 2 kids and i have we have no idea how they're doing a thorough good ukrainian officials promised phone service me back in a matter of days. although they can't promise though, is anything resembling life as it was before february 24th. and the russian invasion, a few hours of to leave coupons, news comes through a for adults and a teenager wounded in yet more shelling. really dire conditions there neck m. i'm. we've seen that the fighting is continuing. how is the actual ukrainian counter offensive progressing? what is making progress will be at a slower pace than we saw in recent weeks. i think ukraine took out the weakest parts of russia's frontline defenses and is, are facing more professional, better supplied units. but it is trying to make progress towards low hans or blast

region to as, as t of some of the nets where you saw russia making gains in the summer at a huge cost in terms of equipment, but also mainly in lives and a sense now that ukraine is trying to kind of get around the russian defenses by a kind of coming in from an unexpected direction from the north. tis real worry if you look at russian social media from the kind of pro war speakers that ukraine could actually push home intervention out before rush mobilization really kicks in before it's able to get more in the way of troops to the front lines. learn train those people up and a sense here that now the clock is really sticking ahead of the winter to really make some progress because during which time fighting is going to be very, very difficult. any gains going to be minimal. so you crank trying to take as much church as it can before russia re supplies and for the winter near stops the front lines and can fix them where they are. thanks for your reporting, nick, nick conley and clark. if a brief look now at other stories related to russia's invasion of ukraine, germany's parliament has been debating,

stepping of military support, including sending tanks for ukraine. the discussion has exposed cracks and the governing coalition. the greens and liberals favor more military assistance, but center left to chance for all of shots insists germany should keep in step with its nato allies. a pro government newspaper in hungary says, prime minister victor, or ben wants the you to lift that sanctions against russia. by the end of the year, the newspaper it says or been made the remarks at a closed door meeting of his ruling. c dash party sang sanctions only damage europe's economy. 50 letty will long queues at the border cell dive flights to foreign destinations. latimer hooton's conscription drive to bolster his forces in ukraine is being met with resistance in russia. more than 1300 people have been arrested at nationwide protests, many men of draft age are leaving the country while they still come. touching down

in istanbul, just a day after russia announced a military draft, flight prices have skyrocketed as more and more people flee to avoid being cold to serve in ukraine. in turkey, arriving russian passengers don't require a visa for entry, making it a top destination. you can, you should get your mother for the period. any one could be drafted for that reason people, us get, you go it out for now. the draft papers are being sent to specific people over the new video, but i don't believe that soon. they will expand to more people and that's scary because we don't know who the next. i thought she snatched at them something as i said over the better for they took the demand for one way flights out of russia is surging flights to turkey. serbia, as well as armenia and azerbaijan have entirely sold out reports of a mass exodus of young men have been downplayed by the kremlin,

which claims the situation is exaggerated. but some of those arriving in turkey say, the fear of conscription, israel. this passenger requested to stay anonymous, fearing reprisals back home and use the lda. yeah, of course i'm horrified or could be drafted some did oh yeah. i feel like everything inside me has been replaced by panic. i agree. i came down at 1st, but when i thought about what i was going to do, i started panicking again. difficult. i'm scared and fearful because i don't know what will happen next. at the land border with finland, choose to leave the country also increasing. finland is russia's last remaining a you neighbor that still allows the entry of russian shank and visa holders. but with finland, considering whether to limit or band, the entry of russian tourists and flights out of moscow becoming unavailable. those

who wish to leave are running out of options. while the united states has cold on the world to urge russia to stop making what a calls nuclear threats over the war in ukraine, you asked secretary of state antony blank and told a session of the un security council in new york that russia had added quote, fuel to the fire by announcing a troop mobilization this week, russia defended its war in ukraine, sang western countries had become party to the conflict by supplying weapons to cave. the international community close ranks on russia's attempts to escalate the war in ukraine. like you for your determination, the u. s. put the blame squarely on russian president vladimir putin as a one man shows this war. one man can end it. because if russia stops fighting the war ends. if ukraine stops fighting ukraine ends.

the un secretary general joined the condemnation, judging, put in for his feel, threats to use nuclear weapons. surely the israel bass, i have said from the start and the season says war has unlimited potential to do terrible harm in ukraine and around the world. here hold the floor and phone saw the idea of nuclear conflict. once unthinkable has become a subjective debate. this in itself is totally unacceptable. will all nuclear arms states should re commit to the non use and total elimination of nuclear weapons. even the poor guy, steve mall, the us in love. other western allies such as france said, rochelle cannot go unpunished. but every one knows stuff statements have little impact on the battlefield. no war itself condemnation can so russian army, what can still them is the ukrainian army equipped with northern weapons coming from our partners. james,

moscow has blamed western military support for prolonging the war. nathan fornia, so denunciation of once particularly cynical here is the position of the states that are popping up. ukraine with weapons from the goal is obvious. they don't even hide issued to drag out the fighting for as long as possible. despite the destruction and the victims, in order to wear down and weaken russia, you fomenting of this conflict by the collective west remains unpunished. victims of, of them those as well. really, you won't be punishing yourselves, sir. seems barbara said mister beth, that goes with russia veto in the security council means any you in action on this issue is unlikely. it only does to this. you're watching g. w still to come plague by power cuts. we look at how people in south africa are coping with the ongoing energy prices. first, let's take a brief look at other stories making headlines. gunmen have killed 10 people in

central mexico and what police believe is violence linked to the trade in illicit drugs? the shootings happened at a pool hole in the town of tati, moto, north west of mexico city. the region has become one of mexico's most violent areas, june to rivalry between competing drug cartels. hurricane fiona is sweeping past bermuda, pounding the atlantic island with strong winds and heavy rain. the powerful storm is heading northwards and is forecast to reach canada on saturday. it battered a number of caribbean islands. earlier this week, the denman had left over a dozen migrants have been rescued off the northern coast of syria after the boat. they were travelling in capsized syrian state media says more than 30 bodies were also recovered. the migrants reportedly departed from lebanon earlier this week, hoping to reach europe. kelsey has no other logical rounds president has vowed to investigate the death of a young woman in police custody massa. i mean, he died after she was arrested for allegedly not wearing

a headscarf property. the case has ignited a wave of violent anti government protests in iran. with state television reporting, the death toll could be as high as 26. ah d, an unprecedented emitted it onion, 55 in country pietro death. despite the use of force by police, people continued to come out on the streets. the debt of martha amin spot, distraught. dis. limon and the at the thief dictating a strict. just good back. now. the cause has become bigger. many men have joined. do they want the good and dieter ship to go? defeat is fighting back cut. did i reports of security forces fighting, mckee, billet and deer guest? many have been killed in the clash of the italian leadership attempt to kill, to anger have so far been unsuccessfully that avenue force that i contacted her

family, the family of the deceased at the very 1st opportunity. and i showed them personally that we will continue to investigate the incident. did our reports instagram, and what's that out? it is an attempt to discourage people from or can i think the tests deputy that has been caused by masa. i mean, his death is shaking the heart lane. it onion state. for years, south africans have been forced to live with rolling power courts, known as low chatting as authorities tried to avoid a total collapse of the nation's aging energy infrastructure. but the crisis is getting worse this week homes and businesses have had to go without electricity for up to 9 hours a day. and as our correspondent adrienne increased reports that having i a devastating impact went on and was a loved to come here for work. this was her laundry shop in springs close to johannesburg, and she had up to 30 customers

a day. but 1st she was hit by the been there make. and then the constant power cuts . she had to leave a barber's shop. moved in. oh, isn't it? cuz palace to fi, this is rest that it and this is where lost everything only to customers remains. none was is doing their laundry from home now and shop and machines, her 2 employees all gone. the future looks book now, or i am in a row with the elements because they will send sizzles to say, no, it's at present during the off at around this time to this time. and we'll try and work around that. i still don't change out of the book. checking the lord, shedding schedule became a daily ritual for south africans. basic infrastructure like traffic lights is down . many businesses and factories are forced to close, others,

generators or improve the crisis has been brewing for a decade. the state power utility, as common, has been blamed for mismanagement and corruption despite growing electricity demand crucial investments haven't been mate. the power utility is heavily indebted despite several government bailouts in the past. 4 years south africa fails to build new power plants to replace the aging ones that often haven't been maintained properly. now, maintainance challenges and breakdowns are causing massive load, shedding the nuclear power plant behind me. for example, has been an operation for almost 40. yes, there is no end in sight to the crisis. those who can afforded invest in renewables and invert us. but in one of the most an equal society is on the world. only a few can win on and was he doesn't want to give up. she's saving money and looking

for an investor to buy solar panels and get her laundry business started again. here's a reminder of the top stories we're following for you. russian installed authorities in ukraine's east have begun holding votes on joining russia. the so called referendums are being held in areas that make up of 15 percent of ukrainian territory. voting is expected to last several days and result in the regions annexation by moscow. iranian state television says as many as 26 people have died and protests that are ruptured following the death of a young woman in police custody. custody massa. i mean he died after she was arrested by iran's morality police for elijah. he's wearing her head scarf to use me. don't forget you can always get tito can use on the go. just download our app from google play or from the apple app store. that'll give you access to all the latest news from around the world as well as push notifications for any breaking

news. all right, but you are up to date of next to the points. panelists are asked if they are still time to de escalate in the war in ukraine. and remember, you can get your news around the clock on our website to go view dot com. don't forget to follow up on our social media camps or handle is d t o v and use i'm pablo foias for me and the team here brand, thanks for watching. take care and i'll see you again at the top and ah ah, with

who to the point. strong opinions, clear positions, international perspective. russia is sending it more soldiers to the front,

threatens to use nuclear weapons and prepares the annexation of formal provinces, a few crime. what can the west do send more trust? will that stop the escalation? that's what we will discuss on to the 2.4 d, w a . around half a 1000000 people die from every year. officials and south america and europe are looking so solutions hasn't temperatures continued to rise. global 3000 in 60 minutes on d, w. o.

not just another day. so much is happening all at once. we take time to understand this is the day and in depth look at current news. events was analyzed by experts and critical thinkers. not just another news show. this is the day weekdays, on d, w. russia has further escalated it's war in ukraine. moscow is mobilizing $300000.00 additional soldiers and talks about using quote, all military means including the use of nuclear weapons. also, moscow is orchestrating for so called referendums to annex for ukrainian province western government.