The ballot was organized in haste, with very vague terms. In the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporijjia, voters are called upon to vote for or against the attachment of their territory to Russia, like the inhabitants of Crimea in 2014. Ukrainiansnatives of these regions and refugees on the other side of the border, can also vote.
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A total of 180 polling stations are open, as in the capital, Moscow. Here, most of the inhabitants originally from Donbass left their country because of the war. “We are from Donetsk, we want to support our people, our blood, our roots“, explains Anna, while leaving the polling station installed at the embassy of the separatist republic.I have all my relatives in Donetsk, my parents, my sister. I’m here with my child and all we can do is give our voice it’s our duty“, she adds.
Anna, who arrived in Moscow in 2014 at the start of the war, voted for the annexation of her region to Russia. Like her friend, Karina, who accompanies her.
“This reunification will truly make life better and the war will end, finally.”
Karina is also from Donetsk. She evokes her friends who died in the bombings, the Ukrainian power that she hates to justify her choice: to integrate Russia is the only solution for her. “I don’t think everything will change overnight. Of course, we are realistic. I think there could be an escalation of the conflict from the Ukrainian side because they still consider us as Ukrainian territory, but at least it will give us confidence“, she analyzes.
For these refugees, worn out by too long a war, Russia represents the hope of a solution, and too bad if it is military. “I’m no military expert, but I think something will change on the forehead”, explains Alexander, a sexagenarian who left the suburbs of Donetsk six months ago. “Maybe there will be weapons, maybe there will be new troops or something, but something will change. The military confrontation will change and I think it will be in favor of Russia.”he believes.
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A few hundred meters away, Youri goes to an army recruiting office. In his fifties, he too is from Donetsk. He decided to enlist in the Russian army. He is aware of the difficulties, but “if everyone is afraid, who will fight?“, he launches.
“I have been here in Moscow for 30 years, but I have my parents’ graves there. I have my brother’s grave there. This is my land, I grew up there, I was born. You must defend your homeland.”
In Ukrainian territories, voting is currently taking place in complicated conditions, with itinerant ballot boxes brought to homes, under the escort of armed soldiers. Polling stations will not open there until Tuesday, September 27, the last day of the election.
Ukrainians in Russia vote: report by Sylvain Tronchet
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