A Ukrainian woman says her friends in Kherson have told her they will refuse to join the Russian military in defiance of Moscow's moves to mobilize men in Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine.

The 29-year-old therapist evacuated from Kherson and is now in the southern Ukrainian region of Odesa. She spoke to NHK online.

She commented on the results of so-called "referendums" in Kherson and three other Russian-controlled regions. Pro-Russian forces say they show that the vast majority of voters in those regions are in favor of joining Russia. Moscow appears poised to unilaterally annex them.

The woman said Ukrainians were aware the results were preordained.

She also talked about Russia's move to mobilize men in the regions.

The woman said it appears that men in Kherson are banned from leaving the region. She said her friends there had told her they'd rather go to prison than join the Russian military. She said they are not going to fight against their compatriots.

Ukrainian forces are pushing to recapture Kherson.

The woman said her mother, who is in Kherson, told her that she heard explosions outside the city where she lives.

She said her mother had recently heard a gunshot inside the city and it was rumored that Russian soldiers were chasing each other.