Ukraine loses Donbass and Crimea for good

Photo: AP photo

Russia respects the will of the residents of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, the press service of the Kremlin said.

Moscow set out a hope for a dialogue between representatives of Kiev, Donetsk and Luhansk. The Kremlin also pointed out the high turnout at the referendum, despite attempts to disrupt the vote.

The press service of the Kremlin also noted that Russia condemns the use of force against civilians in Ukraine, including the use of heavy weapons.

Co-chair of the public movement "The Donetsk Republic," Tatiana Dvoryadkina, in an interview with Pravda.Ru, shared her views on what may happen in Ukraine after the referendums in Luhansk and Donetsk republics.

"What may be the consequences of the referendum that took place in the breakaway republics of Luhansk and Donetsk? What's next?"

"After the results are announced, we will then legally register the Donetsk People's Republic as a subject in two or three days. We then expect to appeal to the junta, to offer them a civilized divorce, solve everything and then we will set off for an independent journey. We will continue to consult with economists on our independence, and we will announce the outcome by the end of the week."

"How did the referendum go?"

"We cried with happiness. So many people came - we certainly did not expect that. Yesterday, the journalists, who were present at polling stations, said they personally saw the ballots being counted. For example, at one poll station, seven thousand people voted, of whom only 100 people voted against the republic. At another, smaller poll station, three thousand people voted, and only ten of them were against. So it turns out we have about 74-76 percent of those, who voted "for" the republic. The  people came and were standing for 3-4 hours in lines to take part in the referendum.

"All is well, unless they put a spoke in wheel. In the village of Selidovo, a few kilometers from Donetsk, there are tanks. In Krasnoarmeysk, two people were killed yesterday - Kolomoisky's army is there. They introduced themselves as the army "Dnepr." They arrived, cordoned off the area and killed people. APCs, the Right Sector are surrounding us."

"What do you think will happen if Russia recognizes the results?"

"I do not know it yet, we will have to discuss these questions. We were planning to arrange mass festivities, as it was in the Crimea, but the weather did not let us. So we will have to sit down and discuss everything."
"Ukraine has lost the Crimea and Donbas - does one have to recognize it as reality?"

"Of course, as we can not be brothers and sisters, if they kill us. Yesterday, a man was assaulted for wearing a St. George ribbon. What do they want to shoot us for? For our wish to hold a referendum? Ukraine has lost the Crimea and Donbass for good. Let them send tanks and APCs against us, but we will stand tall till the end."

In the Luhansk region, according to preliminary data, about 95.98 percent of voters voted for federalization, deputy chairman of the Central Election Commission Alexander Malykhin said.

"We are having the final count of votes in the northern territories of the Luhansk region, where the APCs of the National Guard blocked poll stations," said Malykhin. He said that the turnout for the referendum made up 70 percent in Luhansk and 81percent - in the Luhansk region.

Most residents of Ukraine's Donbass (90 percent of voters) voted for state independence of the Donetsk region at the referendum on the status of the region, the chairman of the Central Election Commission of the self-declared People's Republic of Donetsk, Roman Lyagin said.

"Since counting ballots was surprisingly easy, the number of people who voted against was relatively small, and we were able to count everything fairly quickly and easily. The figures are as follows: "for" - 89.7%, "against" - 10.19% and 0.74% of ballots were ruined," said Lyagin.

The official and final protocol will be announced on Monday, May 12.

Pravda.Ru