As we reported in an escalation of the war in Ukraine Moscow today
launched with the U. S calls illegal votes or referenda in four regions
of southern and eastern Ukraine that are currently occupied by Russia.
Meanwhile, the U. N said today that it has found new evidence of
war crimes and many Russians appear to be fleeing the country instead
of signing up to a new military draft. Nick Schifrin reports
In a city still scarred by Russian shelling now looms the threat
of Russian annexation.
Mariupol residents lined up outside with the Russians call a polling
station to fill out what the Russians call ballots. The question
is, Do you want to join Russia? The outcome is not in doubt.
State TV showed scripted and staged celebrations and some retail
politicking. But this is the reality of what the U. S and allies
today called a sham.
A soldier precedes a poll worker carrying a box of ballots. The occupied
literally voting at gunpoint. Russian installed Donetsk Governor
Denis Pushilin portrayed the vote as self determination and annexation
inevitable. The referendum is a historical milestone, not only because
we are certain the result will be positive, but because this is a
combination of our common, difficult journey were returning home,
but these Ukrainians insist it's their home and called the
Russians unwanted guests. These residents of Nikolayev risked their
lives today to protest the referendum.
And those who escaped Russian occupation remained defiant.
I am against the referendum. I think that my town and my region fully
belong to Ukraine. This is all very hard and I reckon that there
is no place for Russians on our land.
What the Russians are doing on Ukrainian land today. U. N officials
say they found preliminary evidence of Russian atrocities
on the evidence gathered by the commission. It has concluded that
war crimes have been committed in Ukraine, Eric most chairs the independent
Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine. He briefed the UN's Human Rights
Council in Geneva today. Sexual violence.
Torture and cruel and inhuman treatment. There are examples of cases
where relatives were forced to witness the crimes.
In the cases we have investigated the age of victims of sexual and
gender based violence ranged from 4 to 82 years.
And now those that committed those atrocities will be joined by hundreds
of thousands more as Russia mobilizes among the 300,000 additional
forces. It promises to deploy these recruits 3500 Miles east of the
Ukraine border. Some use sunglasses to hide tears somewhere. The
most difficult thing is to say goodbye to the kids.
And the rest.
Others are reluctant to head off to war and unconvinced.
Of course I'm ready, but not now. Not this time. For sure. I think
it's not my war. There are signs that call up is more widespread
than publicly promised, including an admonition by the country's
top Orthodox priest for everyone to fulfill their military duty.
But many seem to lack faith. In one clip posted online, the newly
mobilized fight amongst themselves in another. The drinking apparently
begins far from the front. This recruiter tells his forcibly captive
audience to be quiet and listen, will be shipped to training in three
days and won't come back until the war is over. But others aren't
waiting.
The line of the Russia Finland border is double what it was last
week. Some Russians are driving away instead of being driven into