Ukraine crisis: Crimea voters go to the polls in Russia referendum - Telegraph.co.uk

• Crimea holds referendum on joining Russia

• Russian troops 'in mainland Ukraine'

• Nato websites targeted over Crimea stance

• Ukraine's acting defense minister says 'this is our land'

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10.37 AP have quotes from voters in Sevastopol, the Crimean capital, where voters apparently lined up outside polling stations before they opened. More than 70 people surged into a polling station within the first 15 minutes of voting.

"Today is an important day for all Crimea, Ukraine and Russia," said voter Manita Meshchina. "I think that people are expecting the majority of people will vote 'yes.' What it means is that people believe and think they need to be with Russia."

"Today is a holiday," said one of them, 66-year-old Vera Sverkunova. Asked how she voted, she broke into a patriotic war song: "I want to go home to Russia. It's been so long since I've seen my mama."

10.34 Good morning. The Crimea region is voting today about whether to demand greater autonomy from Ukraine or split off and seek to join Russia, in a referendum that has been condemned as illegal by the United States and European countries.

Yesterday Ukrainian officials said Russian forces backed by helicopter gunships and armored vehicles had advanced about 6 miles over the Crimean border into another Ukrainian region.

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