i school starts october 8th on d, w. ah, this is dw news live from berlin annexation votes begin in rush and held regions of ukraine. western powers of cold, the so called referendums, a sham, they say russia will fix the outcome to justify its a legal occupation of ukrainian territory. not far from the front lines, the city liberated but in ruins. ukraine's army recently pushed russian forces out of cookie odds. but as i corresponded reports, life there is still far from the old at around president vows to investigate the

death of a woman arrested by the morality police. but that is done little to quell public outrage as protests turn into an open challenge against the government. ah, i've been fizzle and welcome there being cold sham referendums. russian installed authorities in ukraine's east have begun holding votes on joining russia. the circle 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 was on a strike outside one polling station in russian occupy don't yet scope. and i'd left 6 people dead pro kremlin separatists blame ukrainian forces. the voting is expected to last several days and result in the regions annexation by moscow.

ukraine and western governments say they won't recognize the outcome. let's get more on this with dw russia analyst. all man contract and go who joins us from our studios in bon will then tell us more about the strategy that russia is using behind these votes. well, we have to keep in mind that the general goal of russia is to destroy, to disintegrate and grain. and this is what is all about, and these so called random's are just an instrument on the way to that goal. so it is very important for russia to occupy ukraine, but not to look as an occupier. that is why they are staging these referendums and the so called referendums, in order to know to make an impression that people leaving the ukrainians, i actually won, willing to join russia and rush race, so gender us to accept them. so. so it is, of course,

a war situation and no referenda is possible. underwater circumstances nor a friend are possible according to the ukrainian law. and there are many other reasons why it is all illegal. but it is also important for russia to distract attention from the defeat. the russia suffered in the region of hockey in north or ukraine in early september. but such referendums were planned from the very beginning. it is part of putting this plan. and finally, last but not least, i think are those experts who served as this war started the invasion started in february. that is a kind of a gift for the russian president vladimir putin. bo will turn 70 in october. i think there is something about it. yes, and this is also an explanation why russia is, is in such a hurry. of course, this isn't the 1st time there brushes a been trying to declare ukrainian territory as its own. let's take a look at what's happened in the past

o. 6 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 woods in ceylon, which it's very important for all of us, that peace will finally come to our republic and to lo hands can. we just want peace and calm with both, but neither was there easy didn't receive, but conflict escalated after russian president vladimir putin. you signed up to support the separatists and used their claims of oppression as grounds for an invasion. now, moscow backed officials in full 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 haskell and done. yet sk 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 after ukrainian troops recaptured sways of eastern territory. they've been preparing for months signing up residence as russian citizens in lou hans cuz some see the vote as a way out of war and deprivation. love that. yeah. well man, i think the referendum will be for the best. yeah. that, that, yeah, that there will be water and electricity yet the people will feel like they are on the native land to you. you won't see that. you'll see what mattered noisy maria. but for those who fled to ukrainian held parts of zappa 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 while the ukrainian and western government are going to recognize are these, this, these votes and the results of the votes? but what about russia's international allies? well i'm, i don't think we will see many countries are recognizing are these so called referendums are, let's remember what happened when crimea was annexed in 2014. just a few countries are agreed to see crimea as part of russia, such as syria, such as when, as well or, or, or cuba or north korea. so i think and not even are the closest russian allies in

the former soviet union. republics, like bellows or context on ah, not recognized crimea as part of russia. i think we will see the same situation here. or even if there result will be $8090.00 or 100 percent, whatever. there will be just a few countries in the world to accept it as part of russia and to accept the legitimacy, which is just not given. the analysis there from mal corresponded women gunshot ankle. thank you. but the w correspond nicolai is in ethan ukraine in the city of harkins. and he told us how people on the ukrainian side view, the votes being staged in russian held territory. we're here in fact, even you crank up 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 territory. we've even heard some russian leaders kind of talking about the numbers that they expect to happen. the seemingly hinting at what the result is going to be, even before people go to the polls as the people on the ground in rockford, ukraine, we can't get there. we basically not be able to get lessons 2014 since russia stoked those 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 deborah sites. as for what people on the ground of saying why he is not a lot of incentive people that are actually asked. typical questions do. so in public. so you do occasion 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. they connelly on the situation and rush occupied parts of ukraine. he recently visited one of the cities and now hockey region where ukrainian forces managed to push back russian troops. but as he reports,

life there is still far from normal. russia is here to stay. that was the slogan, just a matter of weeks go here in kapinsky as russian officials handed out passports in the end, 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, just a few kilometers away. even before the shelling stops, graham 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 i thought all admissible you boys are 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'm worried that case, but we're looking for dna traces on monday fingerprints and also documents sycamore law. i'm lucky she'll, she'll be on the thought that the russian departure was so hasty. the investigation tells us, many of the soldiers left everything behind, even their passports. out on the streets,

ukraine troops out number the locals. many residents took the 1st opportunity to evacuate its ukrainian forces returned. those that remain, keep a low profile. tell us the fighting seems to be getting worse. come on, come on with the helicopter. we hope ahead was not ukrainian, as everyone around us assumed it was russian. ah, who had to come in now in a hurry, we will waive munos for anything that could be destroyed, could explode, and allow way to see what's happening. this is the route here on 4 lines. this is tara 2 is controlled by ukraine, but there is still cancelled threat of rush motivation and there's no cynthia that life was returning to normal in any sense to work. many locals. life is actually getting harder in practical terms. recent shelling the scene lose 1st power than running water. and now guess you know,

we've nowhere to go. your parents are gone and the situation isn't much better why my sister is and heart keeps. 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 upon family. come on, that is correct. sometimes service comes back long enough to say a couple of words to each other. but you end up crying together little bit more than actually speaking. yeah. what is up fox? my husband has 2 kids and hi have we have no idea how they're doing it. open are good. ukrainian officials promised phone service we back in a matter of days. they called promised though is anything resembling life as it was before february 24th and the russian invasion. a few hours of to relieve coupons. news comes through a for adults and a teenager wounded in yet more shelling. a brief look at some other developments.

the united states is urged other nations to condemn russia for making what it calls nuclear threats over the war and ukraine. speaking at a session of the un security council, russia defended its war in ukraine. it says western countries have become party to the conflict by supplying weapons to keep. she was little school. but russia's escalation of the war and ukraine is running into some domestic opposition after the kremlin announced the mobilization of reservists. cubes have formed the borders and flights to foreign destinations are selling out as thousands attempt to leave the country. over a dozen migrants have been rescued off the northern coast of syria. after the boat they were traveling in capsized. more than 50 bodies had been recovered. the migrants reportedly departed from lebanon earlier this week, hoping to reach europe. and hundreds of protesters have gathered outside the new zealand parliament as demonstrations take place worldwide to demand more action on

the climate crisis. scientists, we have only a few years left to slash emissions to a vote catastrophic climate change, but they continue to rise. iran's president is bound to investigate the death of a young woman in police custody. massa armine died after she was arrested for allegedly not wearing a headscarf properly. the cases ignited a wave of violent anti government protests in iran with state television reporting . the death toll could be as high as 26, a wave of resistance not seen in years. iranian cities are engulfed in protest. despite the use of force by police, people continue to come out on to the straits. the death of masa armine sparked these protests. women are angry at the state dictating a strict dress code, but now the cause has become bigger. many men have join to and protest supporting

the cause have sprung up around the world. from here in canada to new york and spain. harvey iranian protestors want the current leadership to go. the state is fighting back hard. their reports of security forces firing metal pellets and t gas. the army has warned it will confront enemies to ensure peace. oh, many have already been killed in the clashes. but for some mourners, this is only compounding their anger. at this funeral, they chant, we will fight, we will die. we will take iran back. the rainy and leadership's attempt to quell the anger has so far been unsuccessful. that avenue forced 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. there are reports of instagram and what's up outages and attempt to discourage further protests. the fury that has been caused by masa means death is shaking the hard line. iranian state fx you up to date and all the world use up next business days with stephen beardsley. i bethel and i'll see you next l. a bite with these places in europe are smashing the wreckers step into a bold adventure. it's the treasure map for modern globetrotters. discover some of you are to record breaking sites on google maps, youtube and now also in book form, a vibrant habitat. lou ended go live.