Leonid Pasechnik, the leader of self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, speaks to the media as he opens voting in a referendum in Luhansk, eastern Ukraine, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. Voting began Friday in four Moscow-held regions of Ukraine on referendums to become part of Russia. Polls also opened in Russia, where refugees from regions under Russian control can cast their votes. Words behind him read "With Russia forever, September 27". (AP Photo)