Referendum results: Majority in favor of joining Russia in 4 Ukrainian regions

Moscow-appointed officials in Ukraine-controlled areas declared an overwhelming support for joining Russia, after a five-day vote in referendums denounced by Kyiv and the West.

Voting was held in four regions, namely Donetsk and Luhansk in the east and Zaporizhia and Kherson in the south, which make up about 15 percent of Ukraine's territory, and the four regions announced that all ballot papers had been counted.

Luhansk authorities said 98.4 percent of the vote came in favor of joining.

In Zaporizhia, a Moscow-appointed official put the figure at 93.1 percent.

In Kherson, the head of the polling committee set the "yes" vote at more than 87 percent.

Denis Pushilin, president of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, said 99.2 percent of those polled supported joining Russia.

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