Mariupol - Residents of two restive regions in eastern Ukraine engulfed by a pro-Russian insurgency are casting ballots in contentious and hastily organised independence referendums.
Sunday's ballots seek approval for declaring so-called sovereign people's republics in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where rebels have seized government buildings and clashed with police and Ukrainian troops.
Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. (07:00 SA time) and were due to close at 10 p.m. (21:00 SA time).
Referendum organisers have said they expect a high turnout.
Ukraine's authorities and the West have rejected the referendums as illegal.
Ukraine's interim president has said that independence for eastern regions will destroy the country's economy. - Sapa-AP