In social networks and on Russian websites, propagandists are spreading information that residents of the Kharkiv region allegedly “support the referendum on joining the Russian Federation” and that “Kharkiv authorities approved” the holding of such a vote. They claim that the head of the military-civil administration of the Kharkiv region, Vitalii  Hanchev, allegedly made a corresponding statement on this topic. The authors of such messages note that residents of the Kharkiv region allegedly “regularly make such requests” to the local administration.

In fact, this information is false. This was written by experts from the StopFake project. They found out that Vitalii Hanchev is a self-proclaimed and unverified “chairman” of the so-called Russian administration of the Kharkiv region. This “administration” is an occupation one and was created on the territory of Ukraine contrary to the norms of international law, and therefore has no legitimate power and the right to represent the interests of the residents of the Kharkiv region. According to articles in Russian media, the request for “holding a referendum” allegedly arose during a meeting with residents of the village of Hrakovo in the Kharkiv region, which is now located in a small occupied part of the Kharkiv region. Fact-checkers remind that residents under Russian occupation cannot freely express their opinions if they contradict Russian propaganda, due to the threat of repression.

In addition, Hanchev is a former police officer in the Kharkiv region and a collaborator. He is suspected of treason. According to investigators, the suspect went over to the side of the occupiers and agitated for loyalty to Russia. While in the village of Kozacha Lopan, he voluntarily took up the post of “head of administration” in the territory captured by Russian troops. Also in 2013, Hanchev worked as deputy head of the Derhachivskyi district police department with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Later, he moved to Luhansk, where he worked in the police structures of the so-called LPR. In Ukraine, Vitalii Hanchev faces life imprisonment for treason and collaboration.

As of today, the legitimate head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration is Oleh Syniehubov, and the overwhelming majority of the population of the Kharkiv region does not demand that the administration hold a referendum on joining Russia. As the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security notes, Hanchev's statements about the “referendum” are an attempt to use the media to drown out the effect of the successful operation. The Charter Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine cleared 400 hectares of forest, destroyed and captured a significant number of enemy personnel. In addition, even in 2022, when the Russian army controlled more than 20% of the Kharkiv region, the occupiers were not preparing for a “vote” like the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Then they limited themselves to Hanchev's statements that “it is not time for a referendum”.