04:28Residents of Lugansk and Donetsk took part in the referendum on joining the Russian Federation on Saturday amid international pushback.
Footage features people voting at mobile polling stations in the area near the school and on a bus, as well as members of the electoral commission making the rounds on the flats.
"Emotions are positive, the choice is a conscious one, because we have been going towards it for 30 years. The decision should come to even the dumbest head, and now it has. That's why we are just happy", one of Lugansk's residents said
"We want peace, so that our children don't die. It's very scary. It's so scary that it's already our last hope,” another city resident confessed.
The local governments of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), as well as those established in Kherson and Zaporozhye after the regions came under Russian control, announced earlier this week that the voting would take place from September 23-27.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he was ready to support the decisions taken, with his country prepared 'to provide the safe environment' and let the people 'express their will'.
However, on Friday, Mykhailo Podolya, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, described the exercise as a 'propaganda show'. President Volodymyr Zelensky himself condemned the 'pseudo-referendum', while his press secretary Sergei Nikiforov claimed that the action meant there would be no chance of a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan described the votes as 'sham referenda', while President Joe Biden said 'Russia has violated the basic principles of the UN Charter' and had also made 'open nuclear threats against Europe'.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said their countries would not recognise the results, while EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell claimed those involved in organising them 'will be held accountable'.
Moscow launched the military offensive in Ukraine earlier this year, after recognising the independence of the DPR and LPR.
Kiev condemned the action, while Zelensky ordered martial law and full mobilisation in February.
LPR/DPR: 'Emotions are positive' - Lugansk and Donetsk vote in referendum amid international pushback
Residents of Lugansk and Donetsk took part in the referendum on joining the Russian Federation on Saturday amid international pushback.
Footage features people voting at mobile polling stations in the area near the school and on a bus, as well as members of the electoral commission making the rounds on the flats.
"Emotions are positive, the choice is a conscious one, because we have been going towards it for 30 years. The decision should come to even the dumbest head, and now it has. That's why we are just happy", one of Lugansk's residents said
"We want peace, so that our children don't die. It's very scary. It's so scary that it's already our last hope,” another city resident confessed.
The local governments of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), as well as those established in Kherson and Zaporozhye after the regions came under Russian control, announced earlier this week that the voting would take place from September 23-27.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he was ready to support the decisions taken, with his country prepared 'to provide the safe environment' and let the people 'express their will'.
However, on Friday, Mykhailo Podolya, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, described the exercise as a 'propaganda show'. President Volodymyr Zelensky himself condemned the 'pseudo-referendum', while his press secretary Sergei Nikiforov claimed that the action meant there would be no chance of a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan described the votes as 'sham referenda', while President Joe Biden said 'Russia has violated the basic principles of the UN Charter' and had also made 'open nuclear threats against Europe'.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said their countries would not recognise the results, while EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell claimed those involved in organising them 'will be held accountable'.
Moscow launched the military offensive in Ukraine earlier this year, after recognising the independence of the DPR and LPR.
Kiev condemned the action, while Zelensky ordered martial law and full mobilisation in February.
Residents of Lugansk and Donetsk took part in the referendum on joining the Russian Federation on Saturday amid international pushback.
Footage features people voting at mobile polling stations in the area near the school and on a bus, as well as members of the electoral commission making the rounds on the flats.
"Emotions are positive, the choice is a conscious one, because we have been going towards it for 30 years. The decision should come to even the dumbest head, and now it has. That's why we are just happy", one of Lugansk's residents said
"We want peace, so that our children don't die. It's very scary. It's so scary that it's already our last hope,” another city resident confessed.
The local governments of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), as well as those established in Kherson and Zaporozhye after the regions came under Russian control, announced earlier this week that the voting would take place from September 23-27.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he was ready to support the decisions taken, with his country prepared 'to provide the safe environment' and let the people 'express their will'.
However, on Friday, Mykhailo Podolya, advisor to the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, described the exercise as a 'propaganda show'. President Volodymyr Zelensky himself condemned the 'pseudo-referendum', while his press secretary Sergei Nikiforov claimed that the action meant there would be no chance of a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan described the votes as 'sham referenda', while President Joe Biden said 'Russia has violated the basic principles of the UN Charter' and had also made 'open nuclear threats against Europe'.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said their countries would not recognise the results, while EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell claimed those involved in organising them 'will be held accountable'.
Moscow launched the military offensive in Ukraine earlier this year, after recognising the independence of the DPR and LPR.
Kiev condemned the action, while Zelensky ordered martial law and full mobilisation in February.