Fighting between Russia and Ukraine has intensified in the regions as voting on annexation draws to a close.
Moscow hopes to annexe four regions of Ukraine in its latest attempt to tighten its grip on Ukraine. The voting began on Friday and is due to conclude on Tuesday with Russia expected to approve annexation in days.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Donetsk region belongs to Ukraine and remains both Ukraine’s and Russia’s vital strategic priority.
Both forces engaged in intense fighting on Tuesday as the voting in the regions were closing.
Kyiv has slammed reports that the Kremlin is forcing prisoners of war to vote in the sham referendums in eastern Ukraine.
The Kremlin is attempting to annex Kherson, Luhansk, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia in both the East and the South.
Heavy fighting has continued over fears of annexation (Image: Getty)
Zelensky has reiterated that the four regions belong to Ukraine (Image: Getty)
The four regions which are not under full Russian control make up approximately 15 percent of Ukraine.
The Centre for Countering Disinformation in Ukraine’s Government said the forced voting was “another manipulation aimed at promoting the Kremlin’s narrative in the occupied territory”.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly added: “Sham referendums held at the barrel of a gun cannot be free or fair and we will never recognise their results.”
Fighting on Tuesday surrounded a number of towns as Russian forces attempted to advance in the South and the West.