Volodymyr Zelenskiy has condemned 'sham referenda' in occupied Ukrainian regions has Russia goes ahead with the controversial polls. 'The world will react absolutely justly to pseudo-referendums - they will be definitely condemned' said the Ukrainian president in his nightly address on Friday. Four Russian-occupied regions began voting on whether they would join the Russian Federation, according to leaders of Russia-backed separatist leaders. Voting would be conducted on a door-to-door basis according to state media, except on the 27th September were people will be able to vote in person.

Speaking in a video message he also said Russia was mobilising troops from Crimea. 'This is a deliberate attempt by the aggressor state to take the lives of as many residents of the territory which Russian troops entered,' said Zelenskiy.