Hello, it's 212 days since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.

And as you know, Ukraine has been tracking this conflict from the very first day.

No one is in any doubt that this has been the most extraordinary week,

with huge significance for Ukraine, for Russia, for the whole world.

Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization to boost Russian forces in Ukraine.

Considering the need to support the operation of the Ministry of Defense and General Staff,

and almost immediately protest started.

Huge numbers of Russians have headed for the border forming enormous queues

on Russia's borders with countries like Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Finland.

Tickets, airline tickets, have sold out within hours of present-putting,

making the announcement about partial mobilizations.

Other Russians are being conscripted, families are being torn apart,

as young men are being drafted in.

And today, voting is taking place in four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine,

so-called referendums, where people will be asked if they want to join Russia.

And of course, the answer is very likely to be yes, because they don't have much choice.

But the leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk people's republic, Dennis Poshilin, defended the votes.

This referendum is a historical milestone,

not only because we are certain the result will be positive,

but because this is a combination of our shared, difficult journey.

In this episode, what it all means for Ukraine, Russia, and for all of us,

what will happen next?

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