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"Referendum" in Crimea: No option to keep it as Ukrainian in the ballot. http://www.thewire.com/global/2014/03/50000-people-gather-moscow-protest-russian-intervention-ukraine/359210/ MAR 15, 2014 9:57AM ET / RUSSIANS IN UKRAINE As Crimea Votes to Join Russia, Ukrainian and Russian Troops Head Toward Border ADAM CHANDLER.

Voters in Crimea went to the polls today to vote on a referendum the outcome of which was never in doubt. As Crimea chose to split from Ukraine and join Russia, officials in Kiev vowed not to accept the results and accused Russia of invading mainland Ukraine. Here are the other major developments:

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a military truce, which will last until March 21. Meanwhile, troops from both countries are heading toward the border between the two countries. Acting Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk has called up 20,000 men for a new national guard to tighten the borders and stem the influx of separatists seeking to undermine Ukrainian sovereignty "under the cover of Russian troops." Russian citizens and children were seen casting ballots in what was characterized as a valid vote with a high turnout by Russian news sources. The referendum was assailed and boycotted by the West, pro-Ukrainian groups, and the Tatar community in Crimea. Pro-Russia crowds mobbed a government building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, igniting fears that south and east Ukraine could be the next targets to fall under Russian sway. In a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed concern over the so-called plight of ethnic Russians in east and south Ukraine. Both the EU and American officials reiterated that they do not accept the outcome of the referendum. For more of our ongoing coverage, see our live blog below:

12:49 p.m.: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, in a phone call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, denounced the referendum. The EU has also issued a statement saying that it will not recognize the vote.

10:42 a.m.: Both Russian and Ukrainian troops seem to be wending their way toward to the border between the two countries.

Here is some footage of Russian tanks heading to a railway station in southwest Russia, presumably to be loaded up and sent west. Across the border in Ukraine, there were similar reports of troop movements in the direction of the Russian-Ukrainian border:

10:16 a.m.: Senior Obama administration official Dan Pfeiffer appeared on Meet the Press this morning. He offered up this chestnut on behalf of the White House about Russian President Vladimir Putin and Crimea:

"Is he going to continue to further isolate himself, further hurt his economy, further diminish Russian influence in the world, or is he going to do the right thing?"

He added: "You can expect sanctions designations in the coming days."

9:47 a.m.: Fears that the Russian encroachment may extend further into Ukraine are not without merit. In a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin not only defended the referendum's compliance with international law, but also added this:

Meanwhile, other ethnically Russian parts of Ukraine seem to be clamoring for the Crimea treatment:

9:28 a.m.: There needs to be a Tumblr devoted to the exasperated facial expressions of Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin. Here he is yesterday with American Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power after Russia issued the lone veto on a Security Council resolution that would have invalidated the Crimean referendum.

9:07 a.m.: The Russian and Ukrainian defense ministers have reportedly agreed on a truce in Crimea. Acting Ukrainian Defense Minister Ihor Tenyukh made the announcement today:

"An agreement has been reached with (Russia's) Black Sea Fleet and the Russian Defense Ministry on a truce in Crimea until March 21. No measures will be taken against our military facilities in Crimea during that time. Our military sites are therefore proceeding with a replenishment of reserves."

8:41 a.m.: In case you were wondering who is allowed to vote in Crimea today:

8:31 a.m.: The caricature and the reality don't seem very different: .

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