The referendums began on 23 September, often with armed officials going door-to-door collecting votes. Authorities in occupied parts of the southern Ukrainian oblasts (regions) of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson quickly followed suit, declaring that they too would hold votes on whether to break away from Ukraine and become part of the Russian Federation. The vote, which asks residents if they want their regions to be part of Russia, is . But costs are up. Updated September 27, 2022 at 6:00 PM ET. "We're just not going to play these separatist games," said Yevgen Sukhodolsky, a 41-year-old prosecutor from Saki, a town outside Simferopol. A man casts his ballot as a Russian soldier looks on in Luhansk, Ukraine, on Tuesday. On Sept. 20, the day before Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a new military draft and a major new push in his war against Ukraine, officials in the Moscow-backed separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk announced they would hold the referendums on joining Russia. People cast their votes in controversial referendums in Donetsk, Ukraine on Sunday. Hastily arranged votes had taken place over five days. The votes are being held in the Luhansk, Kherson and partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions. Russian state media said people would be able to vote in person or remotely. Russia's invasion has stalled in recent months and Ukraine has recaptured swathes of territory in the north-east. Western leaders say the elections in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine are also illegal under international law and that they will not accept the outcome. KHARKIV AND ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine, and MOSCOW Four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine appeared to vote overwhelmingly in favor of joining the Russian Federation, according to early returns. By that time, they were already determined to vote to join Russia. A three-story residential building destroyed in an overnight rocket attack by Russian forces in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Saturday. The international community has never recognised the Crimea annexation, but it has long been clear that Russia intends to rubber-stamp its takeover of other occupied regions in the same way. A Kremlin-orchestrated referendum got underway Friday in occupied regions of Ukraine that sought to make them part of Russia, with some officials carrying ballots to apartment . Opponents of secession appeared to have stayed away Sunday, denouncing the vote as a cynical power play and land grab by Russia. For months, Russian-installed authorities have tried to hold self-styled referendums. Moscow has also mobilised more than a quarter of a million more troops to deploy to a front line of more than 620 miles. Results reported Tuesday by Russian state media allegedly showed over 98% voting in favor of the measure in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics; while 93% voted for it in the Zaporizhzhia region and 87% in the Kherson region. Voting began in Russian-held regions of Ukraine on referendums to become part of Russia, Moscow-backed officials there said Friday as Ukrainian and United Nations . Luhansk authorities said 98.4% of people there had voted to join Russia. KYIV, Ukraine - Russian-controlled regions of eastern and southern Ukraine announced plans Tuesday to start voting this week to become integral parts of Russia. Authorities in occupied parts of the southern Ukrainian oblasts (regions) of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson quickly followed suit, declaring that they too would hold votes on whether to break away from Ukraine and become part of the Russian Federation. Mr Putin cited the defence of Russians living in Ukraine's eastern regions, and their supposed desires to join with Russia, as a pretext for his 24 February invasion of Ukraine. Now Russian-backed officials in the east and south say they want votes on joining Russia starting this week. Moscow-held regions of Ukraine vote whether to join Russia Results reported Tuesday by Russian state media allegedly showed over 98% voting in favor of the measure in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics; while 93% voted for it in the Zaporizhzhia region and 87% in the Kherson region. According to the officials, 99.23 of the voters in Donetsk, 98.42 percent . One video widely shared on the Telegram messaging app and Twitter shows security footage purportedly from an apartment building in an occupied area, with two armed soldiers escorting officials carrying ballot boxes through a stairwell. In Kherson, which is almost fully controlled by Moscow, the balloting was also expected to get. Find out more about how we use your information in our privacy policy and cookie policy. Lonsdorf reported from Zaporizhzhia, Beaubien from Kharkiv and Maynes from Moscow. Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. Occupied regions of Ukraine vote to join Russia in staged referendums Continue reading your article witha WSJ membership, Already a member? Russian-installed officials took ballot boxes from house to house in what both Ukraine and the West said was a coercive exercise to create a legal pretext for Russia to annex the areas. Pro-Moscow officials say 4 occupied areas of Ukraine have voted to join Moscow was poised on Wednesday to annex a swath of Ukraine, releasing what it called vote tallies showing support in four partially occupied provinces to join Russia, after what Kyiv and the West . Hromadske. Four areas of Ukraine under Moscow's control have announced plans for urgent so-called referendums on joining Russia, which would pave the way for Russian annexation. All four occupied areas of Ukraine vote to join Russia in 'sham' referendums, A man walks past graffiti in Luhansk on the day of the referendum result, Undersea 'blasts' recorded at same time Russia-Germany gas pipelines damaged, What's happening on Russia's borders as people flee Putin's orders, Images show 10 miles of queues as Russians flee Vladimir Putin's call-up to fight. He called the referendums with a lead time of several months a successful model for the incorporation of possible future territories of Ukraine into Russian state territory. 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Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? "Russia's referenda are a sham," President Biden said in a statement Sept. 23. At the United Nations on Saturday, Russia vetoed a Security Council resolution declaring the referendum illegal. In Kherson, which is almost fully controlled by Moscow, the balloting was also expected to get underway on Friday morning. There have been growing calls from some quarters in Russia for full mobilisation of the armed forces. Respected Russia analyst Tatiana Stanovaya saw the latest move as an "unequivocal ultimatum" from Russia to Ukraine and the West. KHARKIV AND ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine, and MOSCOW Four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine appeared to vote overwhelmingly in favor of joining the Russian Federation, according to Russian state. Ukraine and its international partners have dismissed the highly controversial referendums as shams and a violation of international law. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}, Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number, Please enter a name between 1 and 40 characters, You must be over 18 years old to register. Ethnic Ukrainians interviewed outside the Ukrainian Orthodox cathedral of Vladimir and Olga said they refused to take part in the referendum, calling it an illegal charade stage-managed by Moscow. Russia-Ukraine war: All four occupied Ukraine regions vote to join Israel Summons Ukrainian Ambassador After Kyiv Backs Palestinian Israeli envoy 'disappointed' by Ukraine's vote backing ICJ occupation probe; Israel still reluctant to break up with Russia despite its new Iranian bedfellow; In exchange for Iranian drones, Russia flew in cash and captured weapons to Tehran; In October, Ukraine voted in favor of a UN resolution calling on Israel to renounce its nuclear . The Kremlin-orchestrated referendums</a>, which have been widely . People cast their votes in controversial referendums in Donetsk, Ukraine on Sunday. Ukraine and its international partners have dismissed the highly controversial referendums as shams and a violation of international law. "It's like they're crazy Texans in western Ukraine. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Voting began Friday in Moscow-held regions of Ukraine on referendums to become part of Russia, Russian-backed officials there said. There is speculation that Russia may announce a mass mobilisation, to beef up its forces in Ukraine. KHARKIV AND ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine, and MOSCOW Four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine appeared to vote overwhelmingly in favor of joining the Russian Federation, according to early returns reported by Russian state media. Although Russian forces quickly captured Kherson at the start of the war, Ukrainian forces have regained some territory and Russian-installed authorities have faced repeated attacks. A three-story residential building destroyed in an overnight rocket attack by Russian forces in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Saturday. Occupied regions of Ukraine vote to join Russia in staged referendums Occupied regions of Ukraine vote to join Russia in staged referendums Occupied regions of Ukraine vote to join Russia. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is one of the many western politicians who earlier described the votes in the self-declared republics of Luhansk . Kremlin claims victory in controversial Ukraine referendums set to pave Four areas of Ukraine under Moscow's control have announced plans for urgent so-called referendums on joining Russia, which would pave the way for Russian annexation. Local Ukrainian officials reported numerous incidents of voter coercion in the five days of voting, with photos and videos popping up on social media indicating a process that was neither free nor fair. The Russian leader responded that the vote fully complied with international norms, the Kremlin said, issuing a statement that showed no sign of diplomatic progress in the crisis. Russia's parliament has earmarked October 4 to consider annexation, according to Reuters. You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. Ukraine: Moscow-held regions begin Russia vote | CTV News Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are Moscow-held regions of Ukraine vote in 'sham' referendum to join Russia Local Ukrainian officials reported numerous incidents of voter coercion in the five days of voting, with photos and videos popping up on social media indicating a process that was neither free nor fair. Closer to the Russian border in Bilovodsk, one businessman reportedly told employees anyone who failed to vote would be fired and reported to occupation security services. One video widely shared on the Telegram messaging app and Twitter shows security footage purportedly from an apartment building in an occupied area, with two armed soldiers escorting officials carrying ballot boxes through a stairwell. The votes are seen as a prelude to another round of annexation, which would in turn allow Moscow to claim its unprovoked invasion is a war in defense of Russian nationals. A three-story residential building destroyed in an overnight rocket attack by Russian forces in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Saturday. Ukraine war: Occupied areas call urgent vote to join Russia Results reported Tuesday by Russian state media allegedly showed over 98% voting in favor of the measure in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics; while 93% voted for it in . "We will not let them advance further into Ukrainian territory," said Serhiy Kuz, commander of a Ukrainian paratrooper battalion. Crimeans vote overwhelmingly to secede from Ukraine, join Russia "This will end up in military action, in which peaceful people will suffer. In Sevastopol, speakers blared the city anthem up and down the streets but the military threat was not far away - a Russian naval warship still blocked the port's outlet to the Black Sea, trapping Ukrainian boats. The vote, which asks residents if they want their regions to be part of Russia, is certain to go Moscow's way. The United States and Europe condemned the ballot as illegal and destabilizing and were expected to slap sanctions against Russia for it. "The international community will not recognize the results of a poll administered under threats of violence," it said in a statement. Kremlin-backed separatists in Ukraine plan votes to join Russia Much of Zaporizhzhia is still under Ukrainian control, including the regional capital of the same name. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. 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