Moscow-held regions of Ukraine in 'sham' vote to join Russia

The Kremlin-orchestrated votes are being held in the Luhansk, partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions.

A military vehicle drives along a street with a billboard that reads: ‘With Russia forever, September 27’, prior to a referendum in Luhansk (AP)

Voting has begun in Moscow-held regions of Ukraine on referendums to become part of Russia, Russian-backed officials there said.

The Kremlin-orchestrated referendums, which have been widely denounced by Ukraine and the West as shams without any legal force, are seen as a step toward annexing the territories by Russia.