Pro-Kremlin rebels in eastern Ukraine have hailed elections that were denounced by the EU and the US, and which Kiev claimed were accompanied by a fresh influx of Russian troops and armour into its territory.
Moscow rejected criticism of the ballots in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and said it would recognise their results, despite western warnings that the votes would only deepen a conflict that has killed more than 4,000 people and displaced about one million.
There was little doubt that the election-winners would be the rebel regions' current leaders – Alexander Zakharchenko in Donetsk and Igor Plotnitsky in Luhansk – but turnout was strong as people vented their anger with Kiev.
“I voted for peace, and that means having nothing to do with the people now running Ukraine,” said Olya, as she walked with friends in central Donetsk.
"I don't think there's much difference between our candidates, but that doesn't matter. We need to stop the war and get help from Russia.
“We are Russian people here, that’s our culture and history, and we won’t give it up.”
Like many people in eastern Ukraine, she had no enthusiasm for the revolution that ousted Donetsk-born Viktor Yanukovich from Ukraine's presidency in February and brought pro-western reformers to power.
“We could live with Ukrainians again, but not with this government in Kiev. They hate Russia and Russian-speakers,” she said.
“For me, joining Russia would be the best thing for Donetsk. We are part of the Russian world.”
Having swapped his usual military camouflage for a suit, Mr Zakharchenko said he was voting for “justice, happiness, peace and prosperity”.
Before the election, he threatened that the rebels – who appear, despite Russian denials, to enjoy considerable help from Moscow’s military – would soon try to take the key government-held port of Mariupol on Donetsk’s Azov Sea coast.
“If they give us recognition and return the land we’ve lost without putting up a fight, then we will restore normal economic ties [with Ukraine] and we will live like equal economic partners,” he said yesterday.
Softer tone
Despite his softer tone, however, Kiev warned of a possible resurgence of major hostilities in the near future, following a month-long “ceasefire” which saw a reduction in clashes but continued fierce fighting over Donetsk airport.
"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," said Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko.
At least one large column of military trucks without number plates and a few artillery pieces, entered Donetsk over the weekend.
Heavy shelling was heard in Donetsk on Saturday and Ukrainian authorities said seven soldiers were killed and at least six wounded by separatist fire.
Large crowds
Donetsk was calmer yesterday and large crowds gathered at polling stations, beside many of which singers performed folk and Soviet-era songs, and potatoes, cabbages and carrots were on sale extremely cheaply – for just 6 euro cent per kilo.
"We didn't love Yanukovich, maybe he was a crook. But they got rid of him in a coup – why couldn't they wait for elections," said 74-year-old Viktor Ivanovich.
“And why do they shoot at us and fire rockets? To hell with war – my dad died at Stalingrad,” he added, after voting in central Donetsk.
“I was going to see my grandson and got hit by shrapnel. A mortar landed nearby. Why? We didn’t want revolution but no one asked us what we thought.”
Like many voters, however, he said he felt no animosity towards most Ukrainians, but only to leaders whom the rebels and Russia describe as “fascists”.
“Of course we could live with Ukraine again!” he said.
“We are linked together so deeply, we have merged over centuries – Ukraine, our region and Russia – that it is terrible to divide us and tear us apart.
“Our history, our culture, our industry, our infrastructure – it’s all tied together.”
Join Russia
Having declared independence from Ukraine after a disputed May referendum, Donetsk and Luhansk asked to join Russia, but later shelved the request.
Russia says the elections will stabilise eastern Ukraine and legitimise its new de-facto authorities, but the US and EU and major European states have joined Kiev in vowing never to recognise the results.