
The first results from four occupied regions of Ukraine showed majorities of more than 96 per cent of people voting in favour of becoming part of Russia in referendums denounced by Kyiv and the West as a sham.
The state-owned Russian news agency RIA said the initial counts showed majorities ranging from 96.97 per cent in the Kherson region, based on 14 per cent of votes counted, to 98.19 per cent in Zaporizhzhia, based on 18 per cent of the count.