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Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russia rebel vote to go ahead Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russia rebel vote to go ahead
(35 minutes later)
Pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine have decided to go ahead with an independence referendum on Sunday, despite a call from Russian President Vladimir Putin to postpone it.Pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine have decided to go ahead with an independence referendum on Sunday, despite a call from Russian President Vladimir Putin to postpone it.
The move was announced by separatist leaders after consulting supporters.The move was announced by separatist leaders after consulting supporters.
On Wednesday, Mr Putin called for a postponement to create the conditions necessary for dialogue.On Wednesday, Mr Putin called for a postponement to create the conditions necessary for dialogue.
Ukrainian authorities say they will disregard the results and that "anti-terror" operations will continue.Ukrainian authorities say they will disregard the results and that "anti-terror" operations will continue.
Millions of ballot papers have been prepared for the referendum.Millions of ballot papers have been prepared for the referendum.
The question put to voters is: "Do you support the act of proclamation of independent sovereignty for the Donetsk People's Republic?''The question put to voters is: "Do you support the act of proclamation of independent sovereignty for the Donetsk People's Republic?''
The decision to press with the vote ahead was announced by separatist leaders in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. The decision to press ahead with the vote was announced by separatist leaders in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
The leader in Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, said it had been unanimous. "We just voice what the people want and demonstrate through their actions," he said. The leader in Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, said the decision had been unanimous. "We just voice what the people want and demonstrate through their actions," he said.
A spokesman for the Kremlin said there was "little information" and that it needed to further analyse the situation. A spokesman for the Kremlin said there was "little information" and that it needed to analyse the situation further.
The BBC's Richard Galpin in Donetsk says tensions are running high amid fears that a vote will exacerbate tensions and possibly plunge the country into a full-blown civil war.The BBC's Richard Galpin in Donetsk says tensions are running high amid fears that a vote will exacerbate tensions and possibly plunge the country into a full-blown civil war.
Moscow has vowed to protect the rights of Ukraine's Russian-speaking population against what it calls an undemocratic government in Kiev.Moscow has vowed to protect the rights of Ukraine's Russian-speaking population against what it calls an undemocratic government in Kiev.
Ukrainian authorities have rejected activist demands for greater autonomy and troops have been battling to regain official buildings occupied by rebels in the east.Ukrainian authorities have rejected activist demands for greater autonomy and troops have been battling to regain official buildings occupied by rebels in the east.
The European Union weighed in on Thursday, warning that "such a vote could have no democratic legitimacy and would only further worsen the situation".The European Union weighed in on Thursday, warning that "such a vote could have no democratic legitimacy and would only further worsen the situation".
The separatists' decision to hold the referendum comes as a Pew Research Center poll released on Thursday shows that a strong majority of Ukrainians want their country to remain unified, even in the largely Russian-speaking east.The separatists' decision to hold the referendum comes as a Pew Research Center poll released on Thursday shows that a strong majority of Ukrainians want their country to remain unified, even in the largely Russian-speaking east.
In related developments on Thursday:
The US and the European Union have imposed sanctions against several Russian individuals and businesses and threatened wider measures if Moscow interferes further in eastern Ukraine.The US and the European Union have imposed sanctions against several Russian individuals and businesses and threatened wider measures if Moscow interferes further in eastern Ukraine.
Sunday's planned referendum was seen as a potential trigger for that.Sunday's planned referendum was seen as a potential trigger for that.
Russian 'shift' The Russian government denies accusation by the West and Ukraine that is instigating and co-ordinating the violence.
Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniyuk dismissed Mr Putin's calls to delay the referendum as "hot air".
But the Russian president appeared to depart further from policy when he said that presidential elections due on 25 May in Ukraine were a move "in the right direction".
His remarks came just days after his spokesman said holding such an election would be absurd.
Meanwhile in the south-eastern port city of Mariupol, the city hall has changed hands for the third time in two days. Ukrainian forces are now back in control, after seizing it from pro-Russian activists on Wednesday - only to be expelled a few hours later.
Also on Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke on the phone to US Secretary of State John Kerry and urged him to put pressure on Kiev authorities "to begin a real de-escalation", the Russian foreign ministry said.
However US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns reiterated the US position that Russia was stoking the unrest in eastern Ukraine. He said Moscow was heading down an "irresponsible path" and that the situation was "extremely combustible".
Unrest in the south and east of Ukraine has worsened since Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in March.Unrest in the south and east of Ukraine has worsened since Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in March.
That followed the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February by pro-Western protesters.That followed the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February by pro-Western protesters.