Mariupol Residents Vote in Russia-Led Referendum

Russian-orchestrated voting has begun in occupied regions of Ukraine in referendums that ask voters if they want their regions to become part of Russia. MORE: The voting began Friday in Luhansk, Kherson and the partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions. The voting, widely viewed as a way for Russia to justify the annexation of the regions, has been widely condemned by the West. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said the referendums are illegal. “Any elections or referenda on the territory of Ukraine can only be announced and conducted by legitimate authorities in compliance with national legislation and international standards,” the OSCE said in a statement. “Therefore, the planned ‘referenda’ will be illegal.” » Subscribe to VOA News: » Watch more VOA News video: