More than a hundred foreign observers from 40 countries, excluding specialists from Russia, attend the referenda in the Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics as well as in Zaporozhye and Kherson regions on their joining the Russian Federation, a statement released on the Telegram channel of the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) revealed.

The voting in the referenda of DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye, and Kherson's accession to the Russian Federation has begun early on Friday.

Residents of the Zaporozhye and Kherson areas joined the initiative on Tuesday after local public organizations submitted identical demands to their authorities. 

"At referendums in the Donetsk and the Lugansk People’s Republics, the Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions more than 100 international observers from 40 countries work, excluding observers from Russia," the statement said.

All four areas indicated their willingness, TASS reported, to be monitored by foreign observers in order to ensure maximum openness and legitimacy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated in a televised address on Wednesday morning that Russia will support the referendum results.

It is worth mentioning that the NATO countries came together to condemn the referenda, according to a statement revealed on Thursday.

On Wednesday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell threatened Russia with new sanctions in the event of referenda after White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that the US condemned the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye, and Kherson referenda to join Russia as "sham" actions and asserted that the US would not recognize the results.

The referenda, according to Sullivan, and a reported Russian plan to mobilize more soldiers, reflect Moscow's recent military defeats, including ceding sizable amounts of land to the Ukrainian military.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the Russian military took control of the Azov part of Zaporozhye and Kherson, liberating large cities, such as Kherson, Melitopol, and Berdiansk, as well as cutting off Kiev from the Sea of Azov.

Kherson and Zaparozhye had new administrations formed in them, with Russian TV channels and radio stations broadcasting there and trade and transport ties with Crimea being restored. Both regions have announced plans to become part of Russia.