And yet the strength of feeling among some voters was obvious and sincere. Many people in Donetsk region believe that “fascists” seized control of Ukraine’s government during the revolution in February. They argue that only independence and Russia’s protection can guard against this threat.
Olga Velichko had been queuing for two hours to vote in the city of Mariupol. “We are longing for change,” she said. “We consider the referendum an opportunity to show our anger and hatred of the Kiev government and we are not going to accept them here.”
Polling stations in Mariupol, the second biggest city in Donetsk region, were besieged by columns of voters, with one queue stretching for a quarter of a mile down Mitropolytska street. Among those waiting, it was impossible to find anyone planning to vote “no”.
But only four polling stations were operating in this city of 500,000 people, helping to explain the crowds.
None the less, Ukraine’s security forces have infuriated many of Mariupol’s people with a series of heavy-handed operations. Last Friday, they killed at least five and perhaps 20 people in the heart of the city, before suddenly withdrawing and effectively surrendering the streets to pro-Russians.
Local people believe that innocent civilians were the main victims of that attack, which they refer to simply as “May 9”. Many in the queues saw voting in the referendum as a gesture of defiance.
“What we have seen here is fascism in its true meaning,” said Galina Kovalenko, who had also waited for two hours to participate. “I was trembling when I heard about what they did on May 9. I just have tears in my eyes. So now we want to show our anger. Those were undecided before May 9, now they have made up their minds.”
The polling station on Mitropolytska street, like many others, had no voters’ roll. Instead, anyone who could produce a passport was handed a ballot paper. Volunteers would then write down names by hand, but there was no other safeguard against multiple voting.
People were asked in Russian and Ukrainian to say “yes” or “no” to the “act of self-rule” for the “People’s Republic”. No polling booths were provided, so voters marked their ballots in the middle of a swirling throng, before placing them in a transparent box.
All of the visible votes were marked “Da” for “yes”. One young woman proudly snapped a picture of herself voting an emphatic “Da”.
At another polling station, a volunteer picked up a loudspeaker and told the queue that “copies” of passports would be enough to vote.
The result is expected to be announced on Monday, but exactly what consequences might flow from saying “Da” are unclear. The question on the ballot paper does not mention Russia or Ukraine and simply invites a view on independence.
If the “People’s Republic” does become sovereign, its new leaders would then choose whether to join Russia, or stay in Ukraine, or become a separate state. How such a decision might be taken has not been revealed.
But many voters believe that “yes” to independence will inevitably mean “yes” to joining Russia. “I see our future as being part of Russia,” said Mikhail Logachev, 19. “The standard of living in Russia is much higher. People there are living, not just existing.”
He proceeded to vote “Da” in the hope that the new “People’s Republic” would instantly abolish itself and merge with its giant neighbour.
That is precisely the outcome that many fear. An opinion poll conducted in Donetsk last month found 52 per cent of the region’s people wanted to stay in Ukraine, with only 28 per cent favouring union with Russia.
Many chose not to vote on Sunday. “What’s happening is nightmarish,” said one woman. “It’s hard for me to speak about it calmly because this is so absurd. I dread that we will soon hear it announced on TV or radio that our region is now part of Russia.”
Voting “no” would have been futile, she added. “I just don’t see any point whatsoever. They will just announce tomorrow that it’s 85 or 95 per cent pro the idea.”
Whether people had the chance to participate depended solely on whether the tentacles of the pro-Russian movement had reached their home area. In the village of Kasyanovka, residents were aware of the referendum, but no ballot box had arrived. “LET them vote for us – we won’t be embarrassed,” said one man.
The two regions of Ukraine that stand on the verge of breaking away possess 15 per cent of the country’s population, 80 per cent of its coal reserves and the industrial backbone of the national economy.
The government has deployed the army to restore control over Donetsk and Luhansk, but with no success.
Denis Pushilin, the self-styled “prime minister” of the “People’s Republic”, said these soldiers must withdraw if a “yes” vote is announced.
"All military troops on our territory after the official announcement of referendum results will be considered illegal and declared occupiers," he told Interfax, a Russian news agency.
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