Russia proxies hold breakaway polls in Ukraine

Kremlin-held regions of eastern and southern Ukraine entered voting to become part of Russia, in referendums dismissed as a "sham" by US President Joe Biden.

The voting on whether Russia should annex four regions of Ukraine started, dramatically raising the stakes seven months after Moscow's troops invaded.

The same day polling got under way, UN and Ukrainian officials revealed what they said was more evidence of Russian "war crimes" -- including executions and torture.

"Russia's referendums are a sham –- a false pretext to try to annex parts of Ukraine by force in flagrant violation of international law," Biden said.

It even prompted a reaction from Beijing, Moscow's closest ally since the war began in February.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi -- in comments made to his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba at the UN General Assembly Friday -- said the "sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected".

Ukrainian forces said they were clawing back territory from Moscow-backed separatists in the very lands Russia wants to assimilate.

Voting is being held in Russian-controlled areas of Donetsk and Lugansk in the east, and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south.

Authorities there are going door-to-door for four days to collect votes. Polling stations then open Tuesday for residents to cast ballots on the final day.

It was also possible to vote at the building in Moscow that represents the Donetsk breakaway region.