Four occupied regions in Ukraine are holding referendums on whether to join Russia
Russian-backed authorities are conducting referendums in four areas of Ukraine.
The votes will take place across five days in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in the country’s east, and in the occupied Kherson and Zaporizhzhia areas in the south.
Russian President Vladimir Putin believes the decisions will help to protect Russia.
Mr Putin announced a partial military mobilisation of 300,000 armed forces earlier this week, as part of his first nationwide address since the invasion of Ukraine took place.
Some Russians have taken to the streets to protest the decision, while others have sought to leave the country altogether.
Ukraine and the West are calling the referendums a “sham” and will not recognise their results.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken rallied his counterparts at the United Nations to condemn the escalation.
“It’s imperative that every member of this council and for that matter, every member of the United Nations, reject the sham referenda and unequivocally declare that all Ukrainian territory is and will remain part of Ukraine,” he said.
It’s understood there will be no independent observers at the polling sites. However, there will be some extra security as a precaution.
Kyiv says it will continue to fight for these regions, even after the votes take place.
“I thank all the friends and partners of Ukraine for their massive and firm condemnation of Russia’s intentions to organise yet more pseudo-referendums,” said Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Our position does not change according to this noise or any other announcement. Let’s preserve our unity, protect Ukraine, liberate our land and not show any weakness,” he added.
