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Sept. 25, 2022, 10:27 p.m.

Russia stages sham referenda in Ukraine — and other news for Sept. 26, 2022

Summary

In an escalation of the war, Moscow launched what the U.S. and others call illegal referenda in the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the United Nations said it has found new evidence of war crimes and many Russians appear to be fleeing the country instead of signing up for a new military draft. You may also choose another story from the newscast by clicking the link below and answering the following questions:

Five Facts

  • Who are some of the individuals or groups of people mentioned in the news summary?
  • What stories are covered?
  • Where and When do some of the stories take place?
  • Why did the event(s) take place?
  • How do you think the NewsHour’s producers decided which stories made it into the news summary?

Focus Questions

See, Think, Wonder : What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more? Media literacy: Who else do you think should have been interviewed in the story you watched?

For More

What students can do: Why does the lead story refer to the referenda in occupied Ukraine as a "sham?" Read the article below and then make a list of the safeguards elections should have to make sure they are fair, free and secure.

Voting begins in ‘rigged’ referendum to join Russia in occupied parts of Ukraine

A man votes during a referendum on the joining of Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine to Russia, in Moscow
A man casts his ballot during the first day of a referendum on the joining of Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine to Russia, at a polling station in Moscow, Russia September 23, 2022. Voting takes place for residents of the self-proclaimed Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republics (LPR) and Russian-controlled areas of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine. Alexander Avilov/Moscow News Agency/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT.
A man casts his ballot during the first day of a referendum on the joining of Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine to Russia, at a polling station in Moscow, Russia September 23, 2022. Voting takes place for residents of the self-proclaimed Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republics (LPR) and Russian-controlled areas of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine. Alexander Avilov/Moscow News Agency/Handout via REUTERS

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