“Russia is laying the groundwork to annex Ukrainian territory that it controls in direct violation of Ukraine sovereignty,” Kirby told reporters on Tuesday.
He added that Russia was also "installing illegitimate proxy officials" in Ukrainian areas already under its control and planning to hold "sham" elections in September, news outlets reported.
Kirby said newly declassified intelligence indicated the Kremlin was beginning to roll out a version of its 2014 "annexation playbook" in Ukraine and was examining detailed plans to annex Kherson, Zaporizhia, and all of Donetsk and Luhansk provinces.
“This is out of the playbook, and we’ve seen them do it in the past,” Kirby said. “What we’re seeing now is a more concerted more strategic effort.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last Wednesday called on Moscow to immediately stop deporting Ukrainian citizens from Russian-held areas in Ukraine.
(gs)
Source: dorzeczy.pl, cbsnews.com