'Referendums' on Joining Russia Under Way , in Moscow-Held Regions of Ukraine.<br />AP reports that on Sept. 23, Moscow-occupied areas of Ukraine began voting on referendums imposed by the Kremlin to become part of Russia. .<br />AP reports that on Sept. 23, Moscow-occupied areas of Ukraine began voting on referendums imposed by the Kremlin to become part of Russia. .<br />Those areas are Luhansk, Kherson and <br />parts of Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk. .<br />Those areas are Luhansk, Kherson and <br />parts of Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk. .<br />Those areas are Luhansk, Kherson and <br />parts of Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk. .<br />Ukraine and the West have denounced the referendums as "shams" that hold no legal weight.<br />Voting will last through Sept. 27.<br />AP reports that the vote is <br />likely to go Russia's way.<br />If it does, that would allow Russia to claim that Ukrainian forces' attempts to fight back are attacks on Russia itself.<br />The votes come days after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial military mobilization to draft more soldiers for his cause. .<br />Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the State Duma, told the occupied regions, "If you decide to become part of the Russian Federation — we will support you.".<br />Valentina Matviyenko, chair of the Federation Council, said those regions <br />are voting for "life or death."
