Near the Ukrainian rebel stronghold of Slaviansk, residents gawk over a blast site.<br/> <br />They say government forces fired a shell in their village on Monday.<br/> <br />Payback from the government in Kiev, they say, for holding a referendum on independence ahead of national elections.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) VIKTOR, RESIDENT OF VILLAGE NEAR SLAVIANSK, SAYING:<br/> <br />"We had a referendum, we voted. Kiev does not recognize our vote, our opinion. So this is the way they try to persuade us."<br/> <br />Pro-Russian separatists in the east refuse to take part in Sunday's crucial all-Ukraine election.<br/> <br />In Kiev, the Interior Minister says a rapid-reaction force is in place to snuff out attempts to wreck the vote.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ARSEN AVAKOV, INTERIOR MINISTER OF UKRAINE, SAYING:<br/> <br />"In hot spots, which we call red and pink zones, special procedures will be put in place with fast-response working groups created to fight provocation."<br/> <br />But the U.N. thinks dark shadows loom ov
