Hundreds tortured and killed by Russian forces ahead of fake referendums in Ukraine

Western intelligence sources say Vladimir Putin's forces are focusing their brutal crackdown techniques on the remaining population in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia ahead of the votes scheduled for next month

Ukrainians face systematic repression as Russia tries to impose sham referendums on them, Western officials fear (

Image: AFP via Getty Images

Hundreds of Ukrainians have reportedly been tortured and killed as Russian invaders tried to tighten their grip on seized territories ahead of sham votes next month, according to Western intelligence sources.

Alarmed officials have received reports of extrajudicial executions in the strategically important southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in a brutal wave of systematic repression by Vladimir Putin's forces.

Those who oppose the occupiers, and those with prior ties to the Ukrainian state or military, have been arrested and face indefinite detention – some being transported to camps outside Ukraine.

This widespread intimidation is being carried out to pave the way for referendums that will see the population polled on whether they support joining Russia, a source said.

No doubt the votes will be cast in favor of Russia, and the world should not be fooled, the insider said.

In the event of a free vote, there would be no point in being swallowed up by Russia, with regions previously voting strongly in favor of Ukrainian independence, they continued.

Vladimir Putin's forces are believed to be stepping up their repression of the population (

Picture:

Russian Presidential Press Office/POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

It is estimated that about half of the population...