The pro-Russian authorities in the four Ukrainian regions announced that according to the initial results of the referendum, after counting 20 to 27 percent of the votes, voters overwhelmingly decided to join Russia, Russian agencies report.

In all four regions - Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia, between 96 and 98 percent of voters voted "for" annexation to Russia in referendums, which the international community condemned and announced it would not recognize. Data on such high votes for annexation are based on 20 to 27 percent of the vote, Ria Novosti, Tass and Interfax agencies report, reports AFP.

By region: 97% of voters in Kherson, 98% in Zaporozhye, 98% in Donetsk and 98% in Luhansk voted for secession from Ukraine.

Western media estimate that when all the votes are counted, support for joining Russia will be around 80 to 90 percent. After this, the separatists should submit an official request to the Russian president Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin for joining the territory of Russia.

The four regions make up about 15 percent of Ukraine, and together they have a territory roughly the size of Portugal.