Russian media: Crimea is basically a done deal

nyone listening to Russian news broadcasts would be forgiven for thinking that Crimea is as good as annexed.

Russian print and television media, almost all of which are controlled by the state, are painting a picture of excitement in the region leading up to the referendum Sunday that will determine whether Crimea will become a part of Russia or remain part of Ukraine.

CNBC, which monitored Russian-language news this week, found that virtually all references to Crimea already refer to it as an "autonomous region," and news outlets frequently depicted its citizens rejoicing at the prospect of being annexed by Russia.

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A report on Interfax matched that of several other Russian media sources when it said that Crimean officials are already deciding the question of "integrating, infrastructure-wise, with Russia."

Crimea's Vice Premier, Rustam Temirgaliev, told Interfax that Crimea authorities and Russian engineers are considering building a gas pipeline from Kuban, a region in Southern Russia, to Sevastopol in Crimea.

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"We have agreements with Russian specialists, and we are looking at the possibility, together with (state natural gas giant) Gazprom, and other specialists to build the gas pipeline Crimea-Kuban, and use Kuban for all communications and networks," Temirgaliev told Interfax.

Alexander Khudoteply | AFP | Getty Images

A pro-Russian protester waves a Russian flag next to a statue of Vladimir Lenin during a rally in the centre of the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk.

One reporter for Russia's Channel One told the audience that Crimea is full of Russian patriots: "These onlookers will be forming the future of the Crimean army…for now they are marching on the streets of autonomous Crimea."

The media are also playing on Ukraine's economic problems, with reports indicating that Crimea is preparing to switch currencies to the Russian ruble. One recent headline said that Abhazia, a part of Georgia that Russia recognizes as independent, "is surprised by Kiev's proclamations and is convincing Crimea: With Russia, your economy will start to bloom."

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Abhazia is heavily influenced by Russia though it's officially part Georgia. Russia fought a brief war with Georgia over separatist elements in 2008.

Sources CNBC spoke with say people in Crimea already feel like they are part of Russia, and Russian media consistently highlights that in news reports, which feature only those Crimeans who take the Russian stance.

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It's become increasingly difficult to find dissenting views on any of the major Russian news channels. An independent broadcaster in Crimea, Black Sea TV, was shut down early last week, with officials citing threats against journalists as the reason.

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The New York Times reported Friday that Russian prosecutors have begun toblock access to some news websites, but Russia's opponents of have launched efforts online. The Ukraine Crisis Media Center, a site based in Kiev that's available in Russian, Ukrainian and English, was launched to counter Russia's official version of events.

The center's website says its goal is "to provide the international community with objective information about events in Ukraine and threats to national security in the military, political, economic, energy and humanitarian spheres."