A referendum on joining the Russian Federation was launched in the Kransniy Yar village of the Lugansk People's Republic on Friday.

Footage shows residents of Krasnyi Yar standing in line to vote, filling in their ballots and putting them in the ballot box.

One of the local residents admitted that she had been waiting to vote for years.

"We've been waiting for eight years. It has to end sometime. We want to send our grandchildren to school and we're afraid. We think, God forbid, it will happen like in Donetsk. Let it happen sooner, so that there can be peace here," the woman said.

The local governments of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, 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.

President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to support the decisions of the areas, with Russia prepared to 'ensure safe conditions' for the votes and let people 'express their will'.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky 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 them 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 said 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 LPR and DPR.

Kiev condemned the action, while Zelensky ordered martial law and full mobilisation in February.