Head of the Central Election Commission of the Donetsk People's Republic, controlled by Russia-backed separatists, Vladimir Vysotsky, inspects the polling station prior to a referendum in Donetsk, Donetsk People's Republic , eastern Ukraine, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. Authorities in Russian-controlled regions in eastern and southern Ukraine are preparing to hold referendums on becoming part of Russia's a move that could allow Moscow to escalate the war. The votes start Friday in the Luhansk, Kherson and partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions. (AP Photo)