Russian President Vladimir Putin is in a hurry to organize so-called "referendums" in the seized territories of Ukraine before September 15. This was reported by Bloomberg.

According to sources familiar with the Putin administration's strategy, preparations are under way to organize "referendums" in those areas that have already been seized by Russia and which it plans to seize in the coming weeks. The main goal is to hold the votes by September 15.

Sergei Kiriyenko, first deputy head of the Russian presidential administration, is in charge of the project. He regularly visits the occupied territories to oversee preparations for the "referendum".

However, Bloomberg notes that the Kremlin has publicly denied any intention to hold voting in the occupied regions. It attributes preparations to the decision of the "liberated territories.

According to Tatyana Stanova, founder of the R.Politik consulting project, the territories of Ukraine were initially Putin's main goal. She believes that the Russian president will continue to push for the capitulation of Ukraine and without this "will never declare victory.

Bloomberg writes that the Kremlin's plans may indicate an intensification of hostilities during the summer. If Russia annexes all the territories it has seized so far, it will control about 20% of Ukraine.

At the same time, a report by the American think tank Institute for the Study of War said Putin could up the ante by saying that the seized Ukrainian territories are protected by Russia's nuclear shield.

"Such actions threaten Ukraine and its partners with a nuclear attack if Ukrainian counteroffensives to liberate Russian-occupied territory continue," the report said.