OREANDA-NEWS  Rogov characterized Zhovkva's remarks as "unscientific fiction" which doesn't correspond to reality, and urged Kiev to "give up its illusions about the seizure of liberated territories." He added that "everyone in Kiev is well aware that if they launch an offensive, it will bog down, and even more territory of post-Ukraine temporarily controlled by [Volodymyr] Zelensky will be liberated..."Balitsky was said to have signed the order during a forum organized by 700 delegates of a local movement calling itself 'We Are Together With Russia' taking place in the city of Melitopol. Attendees unanimously agreed to the need for a referendum on Zaporozhye's status, the correspondent indicated.

Earlier in the day, Vladimir Rogov, a member of the interim administration, said the referendum will likely take place in September, with an exact date to be determined.Pro-Russian administrations were set up in Zaporozhye and neighboring Kherson Region in the course of Moscow's ongoing military operation in Ukraine, with authorities saying majorities of residents are in favor of their regions becoming part of Russia.Last week, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Kiev and Washington have discussed a scenario to "disrupt" referendums on the status of regions' outside of Ukraine's control. "We had a long telephone conversation...We also talked about Russia's plans to de-facto annex new occupied territories of Ukraine, and how we can prevent this scenario," Kuleba said.

The call took place on August 1, and included Kuleba, Andrii Yermak, the head of the office of the president, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, and from the US side, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Pentagon Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley.Last week, Igor Zhovkva, deputy head of the Ukrainian office of the president, told reporters that Kiev would "return" the territories controlled by Russia before any referendums were held.Rogov characterized Zhovkva's remarks as "unscientific fiction" which doesn't correspond to reality, and urged Kiev to "give up its illusions about the seizure of liberated territories." He added that "everyone in Kiev is well aware that if they launch an offensive, it will bog down, and even more territory of post-Ukraine temporarily controled by [Volodymyr] Zelensky will be liberated..."