05:05The referenda on joining the Russian Federation for the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) as well as the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions was launched in Moscow, Kursk, and Volgograd on Friday amid international pushback.
Footage features residents queueing, voting, and casting ballots.
One of the respondents, Dmitri Stepanyuk, said that the news about referendum reached him while he was in Moscow.
"I found out the news by chance when I was in Moscow. And so it's very nice to make my choice, I fulfilled my duty," the man said.
The local governments of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics as well as those established in Kherson and Zaporozhye regions after they came under Russian control announced earlier this week that the referendum would take place on September 23-27.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to support the decisions of the areas, with Russia prepared to 'ensure safe conditions' for the voting process 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.
Russia: DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson citizens vote on referenda in Moscow, Kursk and Volgograd amid international pushback
The referenda on joining the Russian Federation for the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) as well as the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions was launched in Moscow, Kursk, and Volgograd on Friday amid international pushback.
Footage features residents queueing, voting, and casting ballots.
One of the respondents, Dmitri Stepanyuk, said that the news about referendum reached him while he was in Moscow.
"I found out the news by chance when I was in Moscow. And so it's very nice to make my choice, I fulfilled my duty," the man said.
The local governments of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics as well as those established in Kherson and Zaporozhye regions after they came under Russian control announced earlier this week that the referendum would take place on September 23-27.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to support the decisions of the areas, with Russia prepared to 'ensure safe conditions' for the voting process 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.
The referenda on joining the Russian Federation for the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) as well as the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions was launched in Moscow, Kursk, and Volgograd on Friday amid international pushback.
Footage features residents queueing, voting, and casting ballots.
One of the respondents, Dmitri Stepanyuk, said that the news about referendum reached him while he was in Moscow.
"I found out the news by chance when I was in Moscow. And so it's very nice to make my choice, I fulfilled my duty," the man said.
The local governments of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics as well as those established in Kherson and Zaporozhye regions after they came under Russian control announced earlier this week that the referendum would take place on September 23-27.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to support the decisions of the areas, with Russia prepared to 'ensure safe conditions' for the voting process 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.