Editor's Note: Pro-Russian separatists on May 11 are holding their referendums on whether Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts should declare independence from Ukraine. The same type of illegal voting took on March 16 Crimea, which led to Russia's annexation of Ukraine's peninsula. The Ukrainian government and most nations do not recognize any of these referendums.
Separatists keep reporting high turnout at the referendums
9:30 p.m. – Separatists report 71.4 percent turnout for Donetsk Oblast as for 8 p.m. and 79 percent for Luhansk Oblast as for 6 p.m. Cities of Donetsk and Luhansk had 80 percent and 76 percent respectively. – Ivan Verstyuk
International community does not recognize separatists’ referendums in eastern Ukraine
8:30 p.m. – France’s President Francois Hollande has voiced a strong condemnation of the separatist referendum in eastern Ukraine and mentioned that new sanctions against Russia should be introduced if Ukraine will not be able to hold May 25 presidential elections.
Great Britain’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “It is very said that separatists, who have become a reason of great danger for ordinary citizens, are heading forward with their illegitimate so called referendum. All Ukrainian will have a real opportunity to make their democratic choice on the upcoming May 25 presidential elections.”
Meanwhile, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bildt expects massive falsifications during the vote counting. “Figures from fake referendums likely to be fake. No way of knowing even turnout,” he wrote on his Twitter page. – Ivan Verstyuk
One dead in a skirmish in Krasnoarmeysk
8:25 p.m. – Skirmish has occured in Donetsk Oblast’s Krasnoarmeysk that has been taken over by the Ukrainian National Guard earlier today. Journalist Tymur Olevsky writes on his Twitter page, “(National Guard’s) Dnipro battalion … shot into the crowd of protesters. One (of them) was killed. Another one got wounded.” Photographer Petro Shelomovskiy confirms this. – Christopher J. Miller, Ivan Verstyuk.
Poland sees referendums in Donbas as a threat to regional policy
7:15 p.m. – Polish Foreign Ministry released a statement that recognizes Ukraine’s territorial integrity and does not accept the results of May 11 referendums. “The referendum has been organized by an illegal armed separatist group which contradicts international law, Ukrainian Constitution and laws,” reads the statement of ministry’s spokesperson Marcin Wojciechowski, published on the ministry’s website.
Poland’s diplomats see referendums as a destabilizing factor that will raise the tension in Ukraine and whole Eastern Europe. “We support Kyiv authorities in their attempts to work out and conduct the decentralization reform,” says ministry’s statement. – Ivan Verstyuk
Donetsk separatists say they will decide oblast’s fate after the referendum
7 p.m. – Roman Lyagin, ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ central election committee head, says the status of Donetsk Oblast will remain unchanged after the referendum, Interfax news agency reports. “We just want to declare our right on self-determination. This means status of Donetsk oblast will not be changed after the referendum results are released – we will not stop being a part of Ukraine, we will not become a part of Russia, we will just tell the world that want changes,” Lyagin emphasized.
“Maybe, we will remain a part of Ukrainian state, unitarian or federative; maybe, we will become a part of Russia. Maybe, we will become an independent state or a state within a confederative model,” he added.
Meanwhile, Boris Litvinov, one of the DNR leaders, said separatists are not going to keep people from participating in the presidential elections, reports Ukrinform news agency. “We will not stop those who will come to the presidential elections on May 25,” Litvinov mentioned. – Ivan Verstyuk
Separatists greet Denis Pushilin, who says Ukrainian military are ‘occupiers’
6:05 p.m. – Separatist leader and self-appointed Donetsk People’s Republic governor Denis Pushilin was greeted warmly today by the crowd outside the Donetsk regional government building.
He said that Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk Oblast would form its own state bodies and consider government soldiers there as “occupiers” once results were announced from Sunday’s self-rule referendum, Interfax news agency said.
“All military troops on our territory after the official announcement of referendum results will be considered illegal and declared occupiers,” Denis Pushilin, a leader of the self-styled Donetsk Republic said, according to the agency.
“It is necessary to form state bodies and military authorities as soon as possible,” Interfax said he added. – Christopher J. Miller
Separatists keep claiming they have captured Lyashko, while Lyashko says he is free
6 p.m. – Despite the reports declaring news on kidnapping member of parliament and presidential candidate Oleh Lyashko fake, separatists keep claiming that he has been captured in Mariupol. One of Mariupol separatists announced this via loudspeaker to the crowd gathered near the SBU building. Kyiv Post reached Lyashko’s Radical Party, but they could not provide any precise information about these facts.
Meanwhile, one of Donetsk pro-Ukrainian activists Semen Semenchenko posted a recently taken picture of Lyashko in his Facebook account, which proves the politician is free and separatists are spreading fake news.
Later Lyashko himself posted a status on his Facebook page saying he is free. – Ivan Verstyuk
Donetsk separatists detained Vice journalists for two hours
5:45 p.m. – Vice news outlet’s crew has been detained for two hours at the Donetsk People’s Republic-controlled regional administration building and were released unharmed after questioning, Vice’s Henry Langston wrote in his Twitter account. – Christopher J. Miller
National Guard takes over Krasnoarmeysk
5:15 p.m. – Dnipro battalion of Ukraine’s National Guard took over Krasnoarmeysk in Donetsk Oblast, local news website 06239.com.ua reports. “Referendum officers have closed all the polling stations, saying they had to do this under the pressure of National Guard. Militants took over all the ballots and lists of voters,” reads the website news piece. However, around 100 separatists remain on the city’s main square saying they will not give up.
Meanwhile, Donetsk People’s Republic central election committee chief Roman Lyagin says the vote in Krasnoarmeysk may not be held anymore. He adds, that substantial amount of people have already visited polling stations and given their votes. – Ivan Verstyuk
Luhansk referendum ‘officials’ report 79 percent turnout in the whole region
5:05 p.m. – Kyiv Post saw dozen of ballots inside of the polling station in downtown Luhansk saying ‘Yes’ to the sole question of referendum – whether you support an act of independence of Luhansk Republic. But the Kyiv Post has not seen any voters here so far. This polling station is located inside of the city’s Central Election Commission in the building where Communist Party’s office used to be located in the Soviet times. Vasily Nikitin, deputy head of Luhansk CEC, told the Kyiv Post that 71 percent of people participated in vote in Luhansk and 79 percent in the entire region. – Oksana Grytsenko
Turnout in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts grows higher, separatists report
5 p.m. – Voting turnout in Luhansk Oblast has been at 75 percent as for 3 p.m., reports press center of the United Army of the South-East. Figure in Donetsk Oblast was at 69.3 percent as for 4 p.m., says head of ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ election commission Roman Lyagin, according to RBC-Ukraine. – Ivan Verstyuk
Journalist says he’s wrong about Oleh Lyashko kidnapping
4:55 p.m. – Ostrov chief editor Serhiy Garmash wrote on his Twitter account that reports about kidnapping Oleh Lyashko, member of parliament and presidential candidate, are wrong. “Information about the capture has not been confirmed. I apologize,” he wrote. – Ivan Verstyuk
Interior Ministry reports separatists’ checkpoints in Donetsk Oblast have been dismantled
4:40 p.m. – Interior Ministry reports that all the separatists’ checkpoints near Slovyansk, Kramatorsk and Krasnyi Lyman in Donetsk Oblast have been dismantled. This was a planned action, ministry says. “No losses on our side. No losses among civil population. Losses among terrorists are being identified,” reads the statement. – Ivan Verstyuk
Luhansk journalist sees no queues to the polling stations in the city
4:25 p.m. – There are no massive lines to the polling stations in Luhansk Oblast, says local journalist and blogger Serhiy Ivanov. “They organized two demonstrative stations, brought there staff of local state offices to imitate the voting crowd. Other stations are empty. I’ve just called the school that I went to – it’s empty, nobody came to vote,” he said.
“People would come and vote against ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’, but they are scared. Whole Luhansk is scared of people with automatic guns,” Ivanov added. – Ivan Verstyuk
Lyashko, strident nationalist and presidential candidate, reportedly kidnapped
3:15 p.m. – Separatists have reportedly captured member of parliament and presidential candidate Oleh Lyashko, the leader of the Radical Party, who has been criticizing the Kremlin-backed insurgents, quite heavily. Novosti Donbassa, Donetsk-based news outlet and Ukrainska Pravda reported this news; however, Ukrainska Pravda subsequently removed the news. Serhiy Garmash, Ostrov chief editor, however, says the report is true. Lyashko’s helicopter was reportedly seized also too. The member of parliament had been staying in Donetsk for last several days. Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful. – Ivan Verstyuk
Luhansk Oblast governor says referendum fails
3:10 p.m. – The referendum in Luhansk Oblast — home to 5 percent of Ukraine’s population — has failed, said oblast acting governor Iryna Verygina in a statement published on the oblast administration’s website.
“We can strongly state now that Luhansk Oblast has said firm ‘No!’ to the illegal ‘referendum’ of so called ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’,” she said. She said that many people are boycotting the vote while others are voting gno.
Verygina added that ongoing tension caused the raise of criminal activity in the region which pushed numerous local residents to change their political views and condemn separatism. – Ivan Verstyuk
Russian military forces close to border
2:50 p.m. – Russia has gathered military forces close to the border with Ukraine, part of them have United Nations peacekeeping forces’ colors and identification signs, says Serhiy Pashynskyi, presidential chief of staff. UN peacekeeping forces may be brought to the country only after the United Nations Security Council decides to do so, adds Pashynskyi. “Otherwise, this is not peacekeeping – this is occupation. We will consider any invasion as a military aggression and will react as it is military aggression,” he concluded. – Ivan Verstyuk
Justice minister, prosecutor warn separatist leaders
2:15 p.m. – Prosecutor General Office and State Security Service have warned leaders and members of Donbas regional councils about the criminal responsibility for cooperation with the separatists, said Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko. Punishment for violating the law on this issue may lead to a life sentence, minister added. – Ivan Verstyuk
Luhansk Oblast governor says referendum not taking place in many areas
2 p.m. – Referendum does not take place in some of the locations of Luhansk Oblast, says acting governor Iryna Verygina.
“If you take a look at Svatove, Markivka, Bilokurakine, Novopskov – there is no ‘referendum’ there. Throughout the week armed people have been coming here and trying to scare the local population, but today no ‘referendum’ is there,” she mentioned.
She also denies that attendance is very massive. – Ivan Verstyuk
Foreign Ministry repeats that ‘gang’ referendums have no legal force
1:40 p.m. – Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry says referendums on the status of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts are illegal. They will not have any consequences for the country’s political system.
“‘Referendums’ are backed by gang formations, well-schooled and armed by the modern Russian standards,” says ministry’s statement.
“People of Ukraine do not recognize any terrorist referendums in Donetsk, Luhansk Oblasts or Crimea. Reaction of international community is the same,” emphasizes Foreign Ministry. – Ivan Verstyuk
Justice minister: ‘Terrorists’ holding referendums to escape accountability for murder, other crimes
1:30 p.m. – Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko spoke today at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. “The only reason for the conduct of the pseudo-referendum in the east is for the terrorists to avoid being held accountable for mass killings, torture and beatings, ” he said. “There was no referendum, the constitution and laws don’t provide for it.
We have recordings between Moscow and terrorists on the ground about the falsification of referendum outcome. The SBU yesterday caught an automobile with 100,000 pre-completed ballots, more than the number of registered voters in Slovyansk.
No Crimean scenario will take place.
There is no reason yet to impose a curfew or state of emergency. That is what Moscow wants us to do so that the May 25 elections won’t be held. Besides, the law on terrorism is sufficient for us to operate (without imposing a curfew). We operate under this law which allows to effectively work. The elections must be held,” Petrenko admitted. – Mark Rachkevych
Presidential chief of staff: Anti-terrorist operation ‘isn’t in its final stage’
12:50 p.m. – Serhiy Pashynskyi, acting presidential chief of staff, said “We will not engage in street fights in Sloviansk or elsewhere because that will lead to dozens of unnecessary deaths.
We are open to dialogue to coexist in a unitary Ukraine. But the other side buys for time that it uses to escalate the situation and arm the terrorists.”
“The counter-terrorism operation isn’t in its final stage. I won’t comment on our strategic plan, the other side has one as well. Our actions will become more vigorous to defend our national interests. But we can’t resolve the crisis using only force, we need to compromise and negotiate,” he added.
“Only U.N. can bring in peacekeepers — there was no referendum today — we are aware that the Russians have peacekeeping uniforms and have dressed some of their armored vehicles to look like they are UN peacekeepers. We shall exclusively fight the terrorists while emphasizing that no civilian casualties will happen.
The May 25 elections will take place, including in the east where we expect that 50% of polling stations will operate under normal conditions,” according to Pashynskyi. – Mark Rachkevych
Voter turnout suspiciously high
12:45 p.m. – Voter turnout in Donetsk Oblast stood at 32.7 percent as for 12 p.m., while in Luhansk Oblast – at 65 percent, RBC-Ukraine reports referring to the local referendum committee officers. – Ivan Verstyuk
Artemovsk mayor declares referendum illegal
12:20 p.m. – Oleksiy Reva, mayor of Artemovsk in Donetsk Oblast, declared the referendum illegal and prohibited providing building for referendum needs, according to Novaya Gazeta reporter Pavel Kanygin.
Only 4 polling stations are open for voters in Artemovsk instead of 40 during the regular elections. – Ivan Verstyuk
Fire at Mariupol city council
12:15 p.m. – Mariupol city council is on fire, 0629.com.ua reports. Firefighters have not come yet, the reasons of the accident remain unknown so far. – Ivan Verstyuk
Vyshlinsky says lack of polling stations explains long lines
12:10 p.m. – Hlib Vyshlinsky, deputy managing director at GfK Ukraine, says queues to the polling stations in Donbas cities are not surprising, since, for instance, in Mariupol there is only one station per 100,000 of population, while under normal conditions the ratio should be 1/2,000. Today Mariupol has just 4 polling stations, though needs 200. – Ivan Verstyuk
Voting rules lax in referendum
11:30 a.m. – Luhansk news website 0642.com.ua reports that voters participating in the referendum may also vote instead of those who could not come, they just need to show passports of those people.
Novosti Donbassa says, their reporter has already voted on four different polling stations for “one’s neighbor and his wife.” – Ivan Verstyuk
Anti-terrorist operation continues
11:20 a.m. – Military blogger Dmytro Tymchuk of Informational Resistance group reports that antiterrorist operation in Donbas goes on. It includes not only Sloviansk, but also other cities where pro-Russian separatists are being active.
“As for now anti-terrorist operation chiefs admit that the beginning state of it goes according to the plan,” Tymchuk writes.
Early in the morning separatists tried to take over the television loft in Sloviansk, but they did not manage to do so. Two Ukrainian soldiers got wounded. – Ivan Verstyuk
Gunman threaten journalists
11:11 a.m. – About 10:10 a.m. at school no. 1 in Donetsk two men armed with a sawed-off shotgun and a pistol stormed in and demanded journalists to stop filming and photographing, according to foreign journalists present at the time. – Christopher J. Miller
Turnout high in early hours
10:55 a.m. – Moscow-based Gazeta.ru reports 22 percent turnout on the referendum in Luhansk Oblast as for 10 a.m. – Ivan Verstyuk
Few polling stations working in Mariupol
10:35 a.m. – Only four polling stations work in Donetsk Oblast’s Mariupol, local news website 0629.com.ua reports. “Queues are huge,” it mentions.
People make their votes according to the previously made lists and get the ballots in the schools where voting toke place during the Ukrainian election campaigns. – Ivan Verstyuk
9:55 a.m. – United States are not going to recognize May 11 referendum in Donbas, said State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki.
“Referendum planned for May 11 in eastern Ukraine by the groups of armed separatists is illegitimate, according to the Ukrainian laws. It is an attempt to spread the division and turmoil further,” she said. – Ivan Verstyuk
Akhmetov condemns Ukrainian government military operation
9:35 a.m. – Billionaire’s Rinat Akmhetov Metinvest, metallurgy company, released a statement condemning the violence in eastern Ukraine.
“Authorities have not yet fully used the opportunities provided by the peaceful negotiations. They can and they must to hear the voice of Donbas residents,” reads the statement.
“Metinvest group calls to recognize the mistakes, done in Mariupol and other Donbas cities, take out the military troops and start a dialogue with citizens, make compromise political decisions aimed at deescalation of social tension,” it adds.
Company plans to organize people’s militia based mainly on Metinvest workers. – Ivan Verstyuk
9:15 a.m. – Novosti Donbassa reports that most people do not know where to vote and do not even plan to do so. The same situation is in Mariupol of Donetsk Oblast, according to Hromadske television station. – Ivan Verstyuk
Voting under way in illegal referendum
8 a.m. – The referendum in Donbas started, according to RIA Novosti, Russian state-owned news agency. Office of central election commission in Donetsk is being guarded by armed separatists.
Meanwhile, Donetsk and Luhansk residents, who live in Russia, may also make their votes in Moscow that has a special voting spot. – Ivan Verstyuk
