Ukrainians dismiss Russian attempt to annex more of their country

A screen set up before an expected ceremony and concert to declare four of Ukraine's self-proclaimed regions as part of Russia following recent referendums; the screen reads: 'Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson - Russia!' [File: Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters]

Kyiv, Ukraine – “None of the people I know took part in the vote, and no one wants to find themselves in Russia.”

That’s what Maksim, who has just fled the southern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhia, two-thirds of which have been occupied by Russia, told Al Jazeera about the “independence referendums” held between September 23 and 27.