The head of the military-civil administration in Melitopol, Galina Danilchenko, indicated that preparations for a referendum on joining the Russian Federation have begun.
“We see our future as linked with Russia,” she stated.
Danilchenko also noted that Sergei Kiriyenko, the first deputy head of the Russian presidential administration, visited the city. According to Kiriyenko, workers in housing and utilities, healthcare, education, and city administration were commended for maintaining peaceful daily life. He added gratitude to the Russian Federation for the assistance provided to the city.
Earlier remarks suggested that roughly 500 residents could soon obtain Russian passports.
Melitopol ranks as the second most populous city in the Zaporozhye region and is the largest city within the portion controlled by Russian forces. Approximately 150,000 people reside in Melitopol, located in the southern part of the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine.
“Waiting Has Its Considerations”
Artem Sharlay, the first deputy head of the regional military-civil administration, argued that holding a referendum on the Zaporozhye region joining Russia should not proceed while the regional capital remains under Russian control.
He explained that the concept of a referendum is still being explored at the planning level—how and when it could take place.
“There is little doubt that the Zaporozhye region belongs to Russia,” he asserted. He noted that about 70 percent of the area has been liberated so far, while half of the region’s population lives in the city of Zaporozhye.
Sharlay warned that residents of Zaporizhzhia city would face practical obstacles to voting if they expressed support for joining Russia, as security services could detain them. This underscores the political and logistical complexity surrounding any potential vote.
He emphasized that relocating the regional capital to Melitopol, which remains under permanent Russian military control, would be impractical given that Zaporozhye already hosts infrastructure more suitable for regional administration. He suggested that it would be prudent to wait until the entire region is liberated, and only then consider a regional referendum conducted with full participation from all inhabitants.
Prospects for a Referendum
During ongoing military operations, Russian forces established control over parts of the Kherson region and the Azov sector of the Zaporozhye region. Civil-military administrations were formed in these areas, and Russian television and radio began broadcasting. The administrations in question announced plans for closer integration with Russia as potential Russian subjects.
On June 1, Evgeny Balitsky, head of the Zaporozhye military-civil administration, stated that regional authorities preferred Russia’s accession as a federal subject. He later noted that grain shipments from Melitopol to Crimea had begun on June 7.
Sergei Tsekov, a member of the Federation Council, acknowledged the possibility of referendums on the entry of new territories into the Russian Federation later in the year. The Kremlin indicated that major decisions regarding the future status of Kherson and Zaporozhye, along with the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, would be determined by residents of those regions.
Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified that the Kremlin should not directly decide the referendum, stressing that favorable conditions and safety for residents must be ensured first.
In mid-May, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin voiced the belief that the Zaporozhye region should enjoy greater integration with Russia. During a visit to the area, Khusnullin commented that the region could contribute to restoring building materials and industry. He highlighted a need for restored materials to support recovery efforts in Donetsk and Luhansk as well.
In Ukraine’s capital, officials signaled a willingness to withdraw from negotiations with Moscow if a referendum were held in territories under Russian control. Reports indicate that no negotiations have occurred since April, with Moscow asserting that Kyiv blocked talks. President Vladimir Putin later addressed these developments, describing the path forward as dependent on Kyiv’s willingness to engage.
Note: The foregoing reflects ongoing developments and statements from regional and federal officials regarding possible referendums and regional alignment with Russia. Marked citations accompany key claims to indicate sources of information and official positions.