The United Nations seems indifferent to the Ukrainian attacks on the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) as the latter voted Saturday on whether it should join Russia, an Italian observer from an UN-recognized nonprofit said.  

"Unfortunately, we see that the UN is asleep. Not only when it comes to Donbas but also to other countries in a similar situation. The UN has not been reacting," Vito Grittani told reporters in Donetsk.

The International Diplomatic Observatory (ODI-VG), which has consultative status with the UN’s Economic and Social Council, is headed by Grittani, who said the Ukrainian troops shelled the DPR "despite them knowing that people are voting," adding, "We will report about this in our home countries," and Italian observers had received threats and "recommendations" not to head to the polls.  

The voting in the referenda on Russian accession of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as the Zaporozhye region, began early Friday.

❗️«Обстреливают нас, чтобы на референдум не ходили и не было присоединения, а мы всё равно пойдём» — такими словами жители Донецка комментируют непрекращающиеся обстрелы города со стороны ВСУ. pic.twitter.com/vZpLDc3wQx

— Vasilisa (@Vasilisa_2_0) September 24, 2022

The subject of having the referenda promptly was addressed earlier this week by the DPR and LPR public chambers, making official appeals to the rulers of their respective republics on Monday. A day later, the referendum dates were determined, and local legislatures overwhelmingly enacted referendum laws, while elections officials authorized the procedure.

On the eve of the vote, the format of the plebiscite was the source of much debate according to TASS. Due to time constraints and technological concerns, it was decided to use traditional paper ballots rather than digital voting. For security considerations, in-person voting will be limited to September 27, with voting arranged in communities and door-to-door on the remaining days.

DPR and LPR residents will be asked if they "support their republic's accession to Russia as a federal subject."

Residents of Zaporozhye and Kherson will be polled to see if they "favor the region's secession from Ukraine, the creation of an independent country, and subsequent accession to Russia as a federal subject."

Ballots will be printed in Russian in the DPR and LPR, where Russian is the only recognized state language. The question will be presented in both Ukrainian and Russian in the Zaporozhye and Kherson areas.