Putin's proxies go door-to-door with ballots; ‘Join Russia’ vote in four Ukraine

• Despite western criticism, four Russia-held regions of Ukraine are voting to become part of Russia in a referendum. The voting on whether Russia should annex four regions of Ukraine started on Friday, raising the stakes in the war. It is reminiscent of the one held after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea in 2014. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have alleged that people were being banned from leaving the regions until the four-day vote was over.