The Russian-won election was condemned by the U.S. and Western allies. The State Department has warned Americans in Russia should leave the country.
RELATED: Ukraine captures Luhansk town, Zelenskyy says Russians are 'panicking'
Referendums dismissed by the West as "shams" in four Russian-held regions in Ukraine all won overwhelming support of voters, Russian election officials said Wednesday.
Russian-installed Central Elections Committees said voter turnout exceeded 90% in Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia and was 79% in Kherson. But Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov said less than 1% of Zaporizhzhia residents voted. "I am expressing my gratitude to the people of Melitopol for their unwavering stance of resistance to the enemy," Fedorov said.
Russian leaders in the regions said they would lobby Russian President Vladimir Putin to quickly incorporate the provinces into Russia, the state-run Tass news agency reported. Putin is expected to do so within days or weeks.
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#Russia #Ukraine #Putin
Russia is great! Many people in ukranian regions want to join Russia.