01:14The residents of Kievskiy district in Donetsk cast their votes during referendum on joining the Russian Federation on Sunday. Footage shows locals gathering in front yards of residential houses, showing their documents, filling out ballots and dropping them into boxes.
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: Residents of Kievskiy district in Donetsk cast their votes in front yards during referendum on joining Russia
The residents of Kievskiy district in Donetsk cast their votes during referendum on joining the Russian Federation on Sunday. Footage shows locals gathering in front yards of residential houses, showing their documents, filling out ballots and dropping them into boxes.
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 residents of Kievskiy district in Donetsk cast their votes during referendum on joining the Russian Federation on Sunday. Footage shows locals gathering in front yards of residential houses, showing their documents, filling out ballots and dropping them into boxes.
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.