Earlier quoted context omitted.
That article is excellent. It explains pretty well the lies of the rebel regional government.
the article is severely biased To be fair, it is very difficult to find unbiased and knowledgeable people writing about this. It is best to not rely on only one kind of source if you want to form an opinion.
If the real intention was to organize a referendum, it could have been done with preparation, lawfully and negotiated with other regional political forces who are also supporting it.