Voting begins in Russian-held regions of Ukraine on referendums to become part of Russia

Kyiv, Ukraine — Voting began Friday 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.

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