Against a backdrop of war and
repression, Moscow and its proxies on Friday began holding what they called
referendums in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, condemned by much of the
world as a mockery of voting intended to justify Russia’s annexation of those
ravaged lands.

The elections, ostensibly
asking if people want to secede from Ukraine and join Russia, are scheduled to
take place through Tuesday under the watchful eyes of a brutal occupation.

Across four regions of
Ukraine, they cover a territory larger than Portugal where most residents have
fled since Russia invaded seven months ago, many have been forcibly deported to
Russia, and fighting is still underway.

Videos posted by local
residents and Kremlin-controlled news media displayed a hastily organized and
inconsistent show of voting in tense cities and towns, with no ballot secrecy
and soldiers looking on, either at makeshift polling stations or with poll
workers and their armed escorts going door to door to demand that ballots be
filled out on the spot.