Melitopol. Archival photoSIMFEROPOL, July 27 The population began to actively return to the liberated part of the Zaporozhye region in order to obtain Russian passports and take part in the referendum, Vladimir Rogov, a member of the main council of the administration of the Zaporozhye region, told RIA Novosti. Referendum on self-determination of the Zaporozhye region and its entry into Russia is planned to be held in early autumn, presumably in the first half of September, Rogov said earlier.
"People who left with the start of the special operation, not knowing what would happen next, are now actively returning and even more rapidly. They go to the Zaporozhye region, as there is an opportunity to obtain a Russian passport and become Russian citizens under a simplified procedure, as well as take part in a referendum", he said.
According to Rogov, residents contact relatives or neighbors who remained in the Zaporozhye region, and, having received objective information about the situation in the region where peaceful life is being established, they decide to return home. «There is a clear understanding that the population of the region will increase by 15-20% from the current figure,» Rogov emphasized. In addition, according to him, residents of the regional center, the city of Zaporozhye, are also massively moving to the liberated part of the region, which is still under the control of the Kyiv authorities. During the special operation, the Russian military took control of the Kherson region and the Azov part of Zaporozhye. New administrations have been formed in both regions, Russian TV channels and radio stations are broadcasting, and trade ties with Crimea are being restored. The regions announced their plans to become part of Russia.
The authorities of the Kherson region said that the referendum is inevitable