Washington, July 20 (UNI) The United States has accused Russia of planning to annex more Ukrainian territory using a similar "playbook" to its takeover of Crimea, BBC reported on Wednesday.
Citing US intelligence, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Russia is already laying the groundwork for the annexation.
He said Russia would rely on "sham" referenda in the occupied areas regarding them joining Russia as early as September, by installing illegitimate pro-Russian officials to run occupied regions of Ukraine, with the aim of organising referenda on becoming part of Russia.
The results of the votes would be used by Russia "to try to claim annexation of sovereign Ukrainian territory", Kirby said.
Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 after a hastily-organised referendum which was widely viewed as illegitimate.
The areas targeted for annexation include Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk, Kirby said.
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