05:24Some Berdyansk Commercial Seaport workers voted on Sunday in a unilateral referendum to decide wether or not Zaporozhye Region joins the Russian Federation.
"I came for the sake of my children. I want young people to become a little wiser, I want them to have a normal, decent education and a decent job. I don't want them to go abroad in search of a better life. I want this better life to be here, in our city," port worker Natalia said.
For his part, Berdyansk seaport director Vladimir Stelmachenko said that shipowners were 'afraid of sanctions pressure'.
"It turns out that if a vessel is caught in our port or at least in the Sea of Azov, as it was in Crimea before, then the way to other ports is closed. It reaches a point when crew members refuse to come to our port because if they find out somewhere that they have been here, it's the end of their career," the director explained.
Stelmachenko also noted that the port needs repairs and equipment upgrades.
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.
Ukraine: 'I came for my children' - Some of Berdyansk seaport workers vote in referendum amid international pushback
Some Berdyansk Commercial Seaport workers voted on Sunday in a unilateral referendum to decide wether or not Zaporozhye Region joins the Russian Federation.
"I came for the sake of my children. I want young people to become a little wiser, I want them to have a normal, decent education and a decent job. I don't want them to go abroad in search of a better life. I want this better life to be here, in our city," port worker Natalia said.
For his part, Berdyansk seaport director Vladimir Stelmachenko said that shipowners were 'afraid of sanctions pressure'.
"It turns out that if a vessel is caught in our port or at least in the Sea of Azov, as it was in Crimea before, then the way to other ports is closed. It reaches a point when crew members refuse to come to our port because if they find out somewhere that they have been here, it's the end of their career," the director explained.
Stelmachenko also noted that the port needs repairs and equipment upgrades.
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.
Some Berdyansk Commercial Seaport workers voted on Sunday in a unilateral referendum to decide wether or not Zaporozhye Region joins the Russian Federation.
"I came for the sake of my children. I want young people to become a little wiser, I want them to have a normal, decent education and a decent job. I don't want them to go abroad in search of a better life. I want this better life to be here, in our city," port worker Natalia said.
For his part, Berdyansk seaport director Vladimir Stelmachenko said that shipowners were 'afraid of sanctions pressure'.
"It turns out that if a vessel is caught in our port or at least in the Sea of Azov, as it was in Crimea before, then the way to other ports is closed. It reaches a point when crew members refuse to come to our port because if they find out somewhere that they have been here, it's the end of their career," the director explained.
Stelmachenko also noted that the port needs repairs and equipment upgrades.
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.