٠٠:٠٥:٤٧The referenda on joining the Russian Federation was launched in Mariupol, Donetsk and Lugansk on Friday amid international pushback.
Footage features residents queueing outside polling stations, voting and casting ballots.
According to the election commission official from Mariupol, the 'voting is conducted in a quiet mode without any difficulties.'
"We are now at one of the polling stations where people can freely [express] their will. In one hour we have already had a decent amount of people voting. People come safely, they vote," the woman said.
The resident of Lugansk Viktor Kolomytsev remembered the LPR status referendum that was held in 2014.
"We've been yearning for Russia since that day. Well, it turned out that only eight years separated our desire from that day. I think everything's going to be much better now," the man 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 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 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.
DPR/LPR: Residents of Lugansk, Donetsk and Mariupol vote in referendum on joining Russian Federation
The referenda on joining the Russian Federation was launched in Mariupol, Donetsk and Lugansk on Friday amid international pushback.
Footage features residents queueing outside polling stations, voting and casting ballots.
According to the election commission official from Mariupol, the 'voting is conducted in a quiet mode without any difficulties.'
"We are now at one of the polling stations where people can freely [express] their will. In one hour we have already had a decent amount of people voting. People come safely, they vote," the woman said.
The resident of Lugansk Viktor Kolomytsev remembered the LPR status referendum that was held in 2014.
"We've been yearning for Russia since that day. Well, it turned out that only eight years separated our desire from that day. I think everything's going to be much better now," the man 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 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 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.
The referenda on joining the Russian Federation was launched in Mariupol, Donetsk and Lugansk on Friday amid international pushback.
Footage features residents queueing outside polling stations, voting and casting ballots.
According to the election commission official from Mariupol, the 'voting is conducted in a quiet mode without any difficulties.'
"We are now at one of the polling stations where people can freely [express] their will. In one hour we have already had a decent amount of people voting. People come safely, they vote," the woman said.
The resident of Lugansk Viktor Kolomytsev remembered the LPR status referendum that was held in 2014.
"We've been yearning for Russia since that day. Well, it turned out that only eight years separated our desire from that day. I think everything's going to be much better now," the man 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 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 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.