Kiev fears a domino effect in eastern Ukraine after the triumphant victory of the separatists in yesterday’s referendum, held in the provinces of Donetsk and Lugansk, which showed that citizens are in favor of self-rule. Meanwhile, may irregularities have been reported and the West characterizes the whole process as illegal.

Kremlin has announced today that Moscow respects the will of the people as it was expressed through the referendums in Eastern Ukraine. This rather laconic statement indicates that the Russian president wants to play his cards close to his chest for the time being.

Slaviansk was shaken by explosions again today. The clashes continue in the stronghold of Russian-speaking populations, just like any other day.

According to an announcement released by Vyacheslav Ponomariov, the self-proclaimed mayor of Slavyansk, participation in yesterday’s referendum on the independence of this region reached 80%. The local leader of the Communist Party Anatoly Khmelevoy, one of the organizers of the vote, told AFP that he expects the percentage of the people who voted “yes” to reach 90%, since “everyone who voted, voted yes.”

The Ukrainian president dubbed the whole process a “farce” while the pro-Russian organizers of the two controversial referenda celebrate their victory.
Kiev, EU and the U.S. are refusing to recognize the procedure while the “28” threaten with new sanctions.
According to Roman Lyagin, head of the self-proclaimed electoral commission of Donetsk, the percentage of people who voted “yes” to the “independence of the Democratic Republic of Donetsk” reaches, according to preliminary results 89.07%. Only 10.19% voted “no”, said Lyagin to Reuters.