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| Eastern Ukrainians vote in referendum opposed by West | Eastern Ukrainians vote in referendum opposed by West |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| DONETSK, Ukraine — Residents of two regions of eastern Ukraine cast ballots Sunday in a hastily organized referendum that secessionists hope will legitimize their pro-Russia uprising but that opponents believe will only deepen the divisions that are ripping the country apart. | DONETSK, Ukraine — Residents of two regions of eastern Ukraine cast ballots Sunday in a hastily organized referendum that secessionists hope will legitimize their pro-Russia uprising but that opponents believe will only deepen the divisions that are ripping the country apart. |
| With Ukraine perilously close to civil war, people formed lines at makeshift polls in Donetsk and Luhansk, where pro-Russia separatists have seized power. The vast majority appeared to be voting in favor of distancing themselves from the central government in Kiev. | With Ukraine perilously close to civil war, people formed lines at makeshift polls in Donetsk and Luhansk, where pro-Russia separatists have seized power. The vast majority appeared to be voting in favor of distancing themselves from the central government in Kiev. |
| Opponents of the separatist movement largely stayed away from the polling stations. The referendum “is not legal,” said a 35-year-old businessman who gave his name only as Dmitry and was walking in a Donetsk park with his wife. He said he would not vote. “It’s just people with guns, it is not a democratic referendum,” he said. | Opponents of the separatist movement largely stayed away from the polling stations. The referendum “is not legal,” said a 35-year-old businessman who gave his name only as Dmitry and was walking in a Donetsk park with his wife. He said he would not vote. “It’s just people with guns, it is not a democratic referendum,” he said. |
| Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement Sunday calling the referendum a “criminal farce” arranged by a “gang of Russian terrorists,” reflecting the central government’s view that Russian agents are behind the breakaway movement. | Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement Sunday calling the referendum a “criminal farce” arranged by a “gang of Russian terrorists,” reflecting the central government’s view that Russian agents are behind the breakaway movement. |
| Organizers of the vote hailed what they called a high turnout. At the very least, the lines at the polling stations appeared to reflect a significant protest vote against the central government in Kiev. | Organizers of the vote hailed what they called a high turnout. At the very least, the lines at the polling stations appeared to reflect a significant protest vote against the central government in Kiev. |
| But whether residents were seeking to join Russia was unclear. The ballots asked voters whether they supported what could be translated either as “independence” or “self-determination” for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. | But whether residents were seeking to join Russia was unclear. The ballots asked voters whether they supported what could be translated either as “independence” or “self-determination” for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. |
| Separatist leaders say they are not necessarily seeking outright independence or a union with Russia — at least not for the time being. Instead, they are seeking “the moral right to state that we are not happy with the events in our country and demand changes,” said Roman Lyagin, the head of the rebel election commission in Donetsk, at a news conference on the eve of the vote. | Separatist leaders say they are not necessarily seeking outright independence or a union with Russia — at least not for the time being. Instead, they are seeking “the moral right to state that we are not happy with the events in our country and demand changes,” said Roman Lyagin, the head of the rebel election commission in Donetsk, at a news conference on the eve of the vote. |
| But separatist leaders favor union with Russia, and they have said that more referendums are likely on which direction the regions should take. | But separatist leaders favor union with Russia, and they have said that more referendums are likely on which direction the regions should take. |
| Many observers say the referendum lacks any credibility. The voters’ list is two years old, but one election organizer said that anyone who turned up with a passport would be allowed to vote. The ballots lack markings that could prevent them from being widely copied. The people staffing the polling stations and counting the ballots are the same activists who support a “yes” vote. There were no international oversight missions. | Many observers say the referendum lacks any credibility. The voters’ list is two years old, but one election organizer said that anyone who turned up with a passport would be allowed to vote. The ballots lack markings that could prevent them from being widely copied. The people staffing the polling stations and counting the ballots are the same activists who support a “yes” vote. There were no international oversight missions. |
| Polls have indicated that most residents of eastern Ukraine would prefer to stay part of that country. That’s a far different attitude than in Crimea, where residents voted in an impromptu referendum in March to leave Ukraine. The peninsula was then annexed by Russia, a move that was not recognized internationally. | Polls have indicated that most residents of eastern Ukraine would prefer to stay part of that country. That’s a far different attitude than in Crimea, where residents voted in an impromptu referendum in March to leave Ukraine. The peninsula was then annexed by Russia, a move that was not recognized internationally. |
| Still, residents of eastern Ukraine are not necessarily happy with the Western-leaning national government that came to power in February after pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was forced from office. | Still, residents of eastern Ukraine are not necessarily happy with the Western-leaning national government that came to power in February after pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was forced from office. |
| The Ukrainian military has been trying, with little success, to reassert control over cities in the east where separatists have seized control of local government buildings in recent weeks. More fighting between pro-Russian militants and the Ukrainian armed forces broke out Saturday night near the rebel stronghold of Slovyansk. | |
| On Sunday, clashes occurred in several eastern Ukrainian hot spots. Ukrainian national guardsmen fired into a crowd outside the town hall in the eastern city of Krasnoarmeisk hours after the unit had shut down voting on the referendum, wire services reported. The Associated Press said one of its photographers witnessed the shooting and saw two people lying motionless on the ground after a clash. Denis Pushilin, a leader of the rebellion, told the Itar-Tass news agency that there were an unspecified number of deaths. | |
| Meanwhile, hundreds of villagers in Baranikovka, northeast of Luhansk, were attempting to stop national guard vehicles, Vasily Nikitin, a spokesman for the Luhansk referendum commission, told the Interfax news agency. He said that shots were fired and that two people were injured. | |
| Varied reasons for voting ‘yes’ | Varied reasons for voting ‘yes’ |
| In Donetsk, people voiced differing motives for voting “yes” in the referendum. Many said that images of Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicles on the streets of the nearby city of Mariupol last week and the reported deaths of civilians in crossfire had shaken their faith in the nation. | In Donetsk, people voiced differing motives for voting “yes” in the referendum. Many said that images of Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicles on the streets of the nearby city of Mariupol last week and the reported deaths of civilians in crossfire had shaken their faith in the nation. |
| “I am not against Ukraine. My children go to a Ukrainian school,” said Elena Voronkova, a 39-year-old businesswoman, who voted “yes.” “But I want peace, stability and not to be afraid.” | “I am not against Ukraine. My children go to a Ukrainian school,” said Elena Voronkova, a 39-year-old businesswoman, who voted “yes.” “But I want peace, stability and not to be afraid.” |
| Some residents said they wanted more autonomy for their region, which has traditionally had strong ties with Russia. Many expressed deep uneasiness with the Kiev government, which alarmed people in eastern Ukraine by quickly moving to deny regional governments the power to make Russian an official language. That legislation was later vetoed, but many Russian speakers feared they would become second-class citizens under the new government. | Some residents said they wanted more autonomy for their region, which has traditionally had strong ties with Russia. Many expressed deep uneasiness with the Kiev government, which alarmed people in eastern Ukraine by quickly moving to deny regional governments the power to make Russian an official language. That legislation was later vetoed, but many Russian speakers feared they would become second-class citizens under the new government. |
| “It’s good to live in Ukraine, but the situation nowadays is not good for Russian-speaking people,” said 60-year-old Galina Borisovna, a retired former computer worker. “People just want the right to decide for themselves. I hope everything will be peaceful within a federal Ukraine.” | “It’s good to live in Ukraine, but the situation nowadays is not good for Russian-speaking people,” said 60-year-old Galina Borisovna, a retired former computer worker. “People just want the right to decide for themselves. I hope everything will be peaceful within a federal Ukraine.” |
| But others were in favor of joining Russia. | But others were in favor of joining Russia. |
| “My soul is asking, my motherland is asking,” said Vyachesla, 73, a retired lawyer who did not want to give his last name. “I am voting no to fascism and no to the Kiev junta.” | “My soul is asking, my motherland is asking,” said Vyachesla, 73, a retired lawyer who did not want to give his last name. “I am voting no to fascism and no to the Kiev junta.” |
| Voting appeared orderly. People at one school in the center of Donetsk began arriving to vote soon after polls opened at 8 a.m. local time, checking their names against the voter list with assistance from half a dozen volunteers. Many of the early voters were elderly. | Voting appeared orderly. People at one school in the center of Donetsk began arriving to vote soon after polls opened at 8 a.m. local time, checking their names against the voter list with assistance from half a dozen volunteers. Many of the early voters were elderly. |
| The voters then stepped behind one of two curtained-off booths to mark their ballots and drop them into transparent containers decorated with the black, blue and red flag of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic. | The voters then stepped behind one of two curtained-off booths to mark their ballots and drop them into transparent containers decorated with the black, blue and red flag of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic. |
| In Horlivka, a tiny suburb about 15 miles from Donetsk, turnout was heavy. | In Horlivka, a tiny suburb about 15 miles from Donetsk, turnout was heavy. |
| Sergei Vasilyev, 28, who backs the separatist cause, said he was surprised by the size of the crowd, noting that it appeared to top any turnout he had seen in previous presidential elections. “I thought we would be much fewer,” Vasilyev said. | Sergei Vasilyev, 28, who backs the separatist cause, said he was surprised by the size of the crowd, noting that it appeared to top any turnout he had seen in previous presidential elections. “I thought we would be much fewer,” Vasilyev said. |
| Eleyna Sikareva, the head of the local referendum commission, predicted 95 percent support for creating an independent republic. | Eleyna Sikareva, the head of the local referendum commission, predicted 95 percent support for creating an independent republic. |
| But those in Horlivka who support a united Ukraine said they had no plans to vote or felt intimidated about voicing their views. Some mentioned cultural and generational divides that have fueled separatist tensions and are likely to be reflected in the vote. | But those in Horlivka who support a united Ukraine said they had no plans to vote or felt intimidated about voicing their views. Some mentioned cultural and generational divides that have fueled separatist tensions and are likely to be reflected in the vote. |
| “Only old people are happy about it,” said Vika, a student in a technical college who was discussing the referendum with friends in a cafe and declined to give more than her first name. The elderly had grown up in a Ukraine that was part of the Soviet Union, which collapsed in 1991. “Young people go to vote because we are afraid of being killed in Horlivka,” she said. | “Only old people are happy about it,” said Vika, a student in a technical college who was discussing the referendum with friends in a cafe and declined to give more than her first name. The elderly had grown up in a Ukraine that was part of the Soviet Union, which collapsed in 1991. “Young people go to vote because we are afraid of being killed in Horlivka,” she said. |
| Opposition to referendum | Opposition to referendum |
| While Russia would almost certainly embrace a “yes” vote as a sign of the rebels’ popularity, the United States and Western Europe have joined Ukraine’s government in dismissing the vote. | While Russia would almost certainly embrace a “yes” vote as a sign of the rebels’ popularity, the United States and Western Europe have joined Ukraine’s government in dismissing the vote. |
| On Saturday, the State Department called the referendum illegal and “an attempt to create further division and disorder” and said the United States would not recognize the results if the vote proceeds. German Chancellor Angela Merkel also called the referendum “illegal,” while French President François Hollande said it carries “no weight,” the Associated Press reported. | On Saturday, the State Department called the referendum illegal and “an attempt to create further division and disorder” and said the United States would not recognize the results if the vote proceeds. German Chancellor Angela Merkel also called the referendum “illegal,” while French President François Hollande said it carries “no weight,” the Associated Press reported. |
| The European Union on Sunday called the referendum “illegal” and said it would not recognize the outcome. | |
| Those who organized the vote have “no democratic legitimacy,” Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for E.U. foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said in a statement. The European Union supports an “inclusive all-Ukrainian dialogue on the constitutional reform process,” she said, and it supports the national elections planned for May 25. | |
| E.U. foreign ministers plan to meet Monday to discuss the aftermath of the referendum and whether to impose new sanctions against Russia. | |
| Last week, the rebels rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s surprise call for the referendum to be postponed, arguing that they would lose popular trust if they did so. | |
| Opponents of the referendum have raised questions about fraud. Ukrainian news media issued a video and photographs that purported to show three men who had been caught on the outskirts of Slovyansk on Saturday with weapons and a trunk full of ballots already filled in with “yes” votes. | |
| Nemstova reported from Horlivka. Frederick Kunkle in Kiev contributed to this report. | Nemstova reported from Horlivka. Frederick Kunkle in Kiev contributed to this report. |