Votes on joining Russia completed in breakaway Ukrainian regions of Kherson, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia

MOSCOW (AA) - Separate referenda on joining Russia are complete in three of four breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, according to the pro-Russian authorities.

Voting has come to an end in Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia, while in Donetsk, the work of some polling stations was extended until 8 p.m. local time (1700GMT) due to security concerns in an effort to avoid large concentrations of people that separatist officials say may become targets of shelling.

Election commissions, organized by separatist authorities, said the preliminary results of the vote will be announced on Tuesday evening.

The Russian-installed head of the Zaporizhzhia region, Evgeny Balitsky, said the final results could be ready by Wednesday morning.

The question put to the vote will be considered approved if more than half of all voters included on the lists respond in favor of becoming part of Russia.

In all four regions, the referendums were recognized as valid by the end of the third day of voting, when turnout everywhere exceeded 50%.

As of Monday evening, 86.89% of residents were reported to have taken part in the referendum in Donetsk, 63.58% in Kherson, and 66.43% in Zaporizhzhia, while in Luhansk, 90.64% of voters cast their ballots by Tuesday afternoon.