Over 100,000 Donetsk Referendum Ballots Marked YES Found in East Ukraine

Over 100,000 ballots marked YES were found in a pro-Russian car in Donetsk Oblast. The Donetsk and Luhansk regions are holding a referendum on Sunday to declare independence from Ukraine and a government the pro-Russians labeled as fascist.

Pictures from Obozrevatal show boxes with a “Donetsk People’s Republic” patch and a St. George ribbon. The Kyiv Post also reports “a Kalashnikov rifle, Makarov pistol, plus ammunition were seized.” The pro-Russian forces took over 80 schools and forced them to host the referendum. 

Mike Giglio from Buzzfeed reported there are a few polls open on Saturday night. The “Donetsk People’s Republic” previously said the referendum would be open 8AM to 10PM local time on May 11.

Ukraine and the West declared the referendum illegal and neither will recognize the vote. Russian President Vladimir Putin surprised everyone when he asked the pro-Russians to delay the referendum to allow more time for open discussions with Kyiv. The pro-Russians said no and the referendum will go as planned.

There is only one question on the ballot: “Do you support the act of state-reliance of the Donetsk People’s republic?”