Voting on referendums on joining Russia began on Friday in the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, as well as in the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions. The trial will last until Tuesday, September 27, writes the TASS agency.

The first day of voting in these areas and at polling stations created in Russia passed peacefully, reports TASS, which summarizes the main events of the first day of the referendums.

Voting in Donbas

The first day of the referendum in the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics passed without problems, despite shelling – one man was killed west of Donetsk, and in the city of Rubizhne in the LPR, people were forced to vote in a bomb shelter. A number of polling stations, in particular in Alchevsk and Severodonetsk, closed earlier than expected.

Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions

According to the statements of local authorities, the first day of voting was successful in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. However, there were bombings – the Ukrainian army bombarded Kherson in the morning, but the attack was repulsed by anti-aircraft defense, said Kyrylo Stremousov, deputy head of the Military-Civil Administration of the Kherson region. In addition, Nova Kakhovka was shelled more than ten times during the day.

In the Zaporizhzhia region, several incidents were recorded at the same time – from the dropping of explosives from a drone in Melitopol to saboteurs near the city of Pology. No casualties have been reported.

Employees of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, whose territory is often bombed, were also able to participate in the referendum – at their request, an on-site election commission was sent to the station.

Voting on the first day

As of 20:00 Moscow time, more than 20% of citizens voted in the republics of Donbass. 23.64% of registered voters in the Donetsk People’s Republic and 21.97% in the Luhansk People’s Republic took part in the voting.

On Friday, there were 15.31% of voters in the Kherson region, and 20.52% in the liberated territories of the Zaporizhia region.

International observers

The voting process is monitored by international observers, especially from the USA and Europe. According to the President of the Central Committee of the LPR Olena Kravchenko, 50 observers from European countries announced their presence in the republic.

In the Donetsk People’s Republic, 129 representatives of foreign countries, including Venezuela and South Africa, as well as almost 550 journalists from Great Britain, Italy, China, Qatar, France and other countries are watching the voting.

Representatives of France and the USA arrived in Kherson Oblast to observe the referendum, and observers from Africa, Europe and South America came to Zaporizhzhia.

Polling stations in Russia

According to the Central Committee of the Russian Federation, 84 polling stations have been opened in the regions of Russia where many residents of Donbas and other territories have moved.