disputed referendums on joining Russia have started in four regions

Disputed referendums began in Ukraine on Friday 23 September. In four regions controlled by the Russians, namely Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporijjia, the inhabitants are called until Tuesday to vote on their annexation to Russia. “From today, ballot boxes will circulate from building to building to meet the inhabitants so that they can slip in their ballot”reports journalist Luc Lacroix, present in Donetsk, for the 8 Hours of France 2, Friday.

“It will be like this for three days. On the fourth day, residents will be able to come and vote in hard polling stations, like in schools”, specifies the correspondent of France Télévisions. Otherwise, “the Donetsk authorities justify this by the security situation”continues Luc Lacroix, who notes that “everything is out of the ordinary in this vote”. “First, there is the fact that we are here in a war zone, there was still shooting in downtown Donetsk yesterday. They hit a market, there were six dead”, describes the journalist. The referendum was also announced only three days before the start of the ballot, which will not be recognized by the international community.