European far-right parties observing unrecognized elections today
The bitter irony for many is that while Russia and eastern Ukraine separatists claim to be fighting fascism, they have courted (and received) the support of far-right parties throughout Europe. Many participated as "observers" for Crimea's referendum vote and have come again today under the auspices of a heretofore unknown organization called the Agency for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Get it? Not OSCE, but ASCE).
Discounted food at polling stations
There have been several reports of discounted produce at polling stations in Ukraine's separatist regions.
Some supporting Kyiv have used these pictures to dismiss any real desire of Donetsk or Luhansk residents to cast a vote today. But others have warned not to make too much of the situation.
Separatist "vote" in photos
"Novaya Gazeta" correspondent Evgeny Feldman has already taken some remarkable photos of the proceedings today.
Protests outside separatist-held territories
Mariupol:
Kyiv, where internally-displaced people from Donetsk and Luhansk are apparently holding a pro-Ukraine rally:
High turnout or just few polling stations?
Doctors protest in Moscow
Meanwhile, in central Moscow a gathering of medical professionals upset about coming "restructuring" of public healthcare. According to our Russian Service, over 1,000 people came out to Suvorov Square to protest the changes, which could result in the dismissal of 30 percent of doctors and nurses and the closure of 18 hospitals in Moscow.
Kyiv claims "intensive" movement of Russian troops into Ukraine
AFP quotes Ukraine's military spokesman Andriy Lysenko saying, "there is intensive deployment of military equipment and personnel of the enemy from the territory of the Russian Federation onto territory temporarily controlled by insurgents."
The "observer," Ewald Stadler, is heading the "ASCE" observer group mentioned in an earlier post.