Authorities in four Ukrainian territories, set up by Russia and controlled by Moscow, have begun holding so-called referendums on joining Russia. Kremlin-installed leaders in Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia have said they plan to hold a vote on joining Russia by September 27. Ukraine and the West have declared that they will not recognize these referendums as legitimate.

Moscow wants to annex Ukrainian regions through this process. Experts describe the Russian referendum on the territory of Ukraine as fake and ridiculous.

"We give the right to vote to all citizens of the People's Republic of Donetsk who are in our territory, as well as abroad. Voting centers for the referendum are open," said Vladimir Vysocki, the president of the election commission.

In parallel with the start of voting in separatist regions, thousands of supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin took to the streets in Moscow to express support for the annexation of areas of eastern Ukraine to Russia.

The participants of the mass gathering carried Russian flags, banners with the symbol "Z" and "Russians, Ukrainians, one nation, one state".