Eastern Ukraine Voting on Secession

Map of the Donetsk Oblast with ‘Russia’ Written Over It (Андрей Бутко)

The vote for secession from Ukraine is happening in its eastern region today:

May 11, 2014 6:11 AM

DONETSK, UKRAINE — Eastern Ukrainians began voting early Sunday in a referendum on secession – with most voters saying they were voting for a break because of the military campaign by Kyiv against Pro-Russian separatists. Other voters cited an expectation for a better life if their region is annexed by Russia.

Voting was brisk this morning at polling stations in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions abutting Russia.

In Mariupol, scene of fierce fighting last week, there were only eight polling centers for a half-million people. Queues grew to hundreds of meters in bright sunshine, the event taking on an almost festive atmosphere as one polling station overflowed and ballot boxes were brought out onto the street, Reuters reported.

The interim government in Kyiv has denounced the referendum as illegal and a sham. Only one question is on the ballot: Should the regions form independent republics? Most residents against secession say they won’t cast a vote.

But those who did file into polling stations said the recent violence in the east was reason enough to secede.

There is deep anger towards the interim government for its military campaign to restore order in eastern Ukraine and to clear out armed separatists from the dozens of government buildings they have seized in towns across the region…

Most voters in Donetsk and Luhansk say they hope that if the referendum approves the regions’ status as independent republics, Russia will quickly agree to annex them.

Interim Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov has warned secession supporters that independence for the regions would be “a step into the abyss.” He has appealed to the rebels to join talks on greater autonomy in the east.

US will not recognize results

Jen Psaki, a State Department spokeswoman, said late Saturday the U.S. will not recognize the results. She said the polls “violate international law and the territorial integrity of Ukraine.” http://www.voanews.com/content/independence-referenda-open-in-ukraine/1912131.html

May 11, 2014

Ukraine’s eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk … are to hold separate votes on Sunday, asking its residents to answer the question on whether they want an independent republic or not.

In Donetsk, about 1,200 polling stations have been set up in schools, hospitals, and government buildings across the region, according to Roman Lyahin, elections chief of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic.

Denis Pushilin, the head of pro-Russia activists in Donetsk, said the referendum will be held in 90 percent of the towns in the two regions and that the turnout is expected to be 60 percent.

In Luhansk, the vote is set to be held in a number of towns and cities, where activists have formed the Luhansk People’s Republic.

The results from the two referendums are expected to be announced later on Sunday…

The two regions…are home to about 7.3 million of the 46 million population of Ukraine http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/05/11/362169/donetsk-luhansk-set-for-referendum/

So, it appears that a lot of people are voting, despite the misgivings of the interim government in Kiev. This, despite what the West or Kiev government may say, will give legitimacy to the outcome. The USA claimed that it would not consider the vote in Crimea legitimate either, but it is now part of Russia. The same thing is likely to happen again with Donetsk and possibly Luhansk.

As I wrote previously, Russia will likely rely on this vote as justification for some of its future actions.

If portions of eastern Ukraine do vote to be independent of Kiev, then they probably will not allow the Ukraine-wide election that the West has counted on for May 25, 2014 to take place in their newly ‘independent’ and/or Russian-aligned state. This seems to what Russia would want as it probably could not win an overall election for all of Ukraine at this time.

Notice what Russia’s Dmitry Peskov said about the May 25th election about a week ago:

Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, said it would be “absurd” for Ukrainian authorities to push forward with the May 25 presidential vote following the violence in the southern port city of Odessa and Kiev’s military operations to dislodge pro-Russian separatists from towns in the east. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dec0a1f2-d3a9-11e3-b0be-00144feabdc0.html#axzz31Q7jO7Cz

Having the vote today in eastern Ukraine is further reason for Russia to not support the May 25th elections in that region.

Breaking Ukraine into smaller pieces, several of which seem to be close to Russia, would seem to be consistent with some of the strategic objectives that Russia has for the region. Although Russia wants all of Ukraine, it would rather see parts of Ukraine under its control/influence then all of it in the European Union (which is what the interim Kiev government advocates).

The Bible tells of a time when the “kings of the Medes” will get together for a military battle and attack the end time Babylonian power (Jeremiah 51:11), which will be based in Europe. Various of the Medes ended up in parts of Ukraine and Russia. And while this Mede military battle is a future event, the that more portions of lands that were considered part of Ukraine, such as Crimea (which voted for and then was annexed by Russia in March of this year), align with Russia, the closer we are to the fulfillment of that prophecy (though it is at least 7 years away from now).

Individually, those in Ukraine and elsewhere need to turn to God. Neither Russia, independence, nor the European Union, is the best solution for Ukraine.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy.
Ukraine in Prophecy? What is happening in Ukraine? What is known and what is unsure about its future? What is the origin of those who live in Ukraine? What does the Bible teach about the role of the Medes in the end times? Will Ukraine split? Why might part of Ukraine end up in the European Union? Why might part of Ukraine end up in the Eurasian Union? Is war in the prophesied future for Ukraine? What is the ultimate destiny for nearly all Ukrainians?
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
When You Sin: Do You Really Repent? This is an article by Charles F. Hunting. A related sermon is Confess to God and truly repent.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Just What Do You Mean the Kingdom of God? A booklet that was written by Herbert Armstrong answers questions about the Kingdom.
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.