September 23 (Reuters) – Referendums on joining Russia begin on Friday in four regions of Ukraine controlled by Moscow and pro-Russian separatist forces, consultations condemned by Westerners who see them as a disguised annexation.
Ukraine and its allies have warned that they will not recognize the result of these referendums organized until Tuesday in the areas under Russian control in the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhya, representing 15% of Ukrainian territory. NATO has denounced a “travesty of voting”.
The idea of these referendums has been mooted for months by Moscow, but Ukraine’s recent military victories have prompted the pro-Russian authorities to organize them earlier than planned. (Reuters offices, French version Jean-Stéphane Brosse, editing by Nicolas Delame)
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