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Hastily-organized independence votes in eastern Ukrainian cities today went ahead today amid signs of fraud and early indications that Ukraine's pro-Russian separatists look set to carry the day.

CNN reports that in Donetsk, where residents are being asked to vote yes or no on the question "Do you support the Act of Independence of the People's Republic of Donetsk?", the ballot boxes were already emblazoned with an independence flag and that its reporters witnessed multiple instances of people voting twice.

Russian-speaking Ukrainians seized control of a number of cities in the country's east following Russia's annexation of Crimea in March, and a number of leaders of NATO have alleged that Moscow has played a major role in stirring up the conflict and separatist votes.

But there's also clear enthusiasm for a break with Kiev and closer ties with Moscow among many in the industrial regions bordering Russia.

CJ Chivers, a New York Times correspondent in Ukraine, wrote from Slovyansk, which saw serious clashes between separatists and Ukrainian troops earlier this week:

Just watched the ballot count at a Slovyansk polling station. "Da. Da. Da. Da. Da. Da. Da. Da. Da. Da. Da. Da. Da. Da. Da. Da. Da. Da. Da."

— C.J. Chivers (@cjchivers) May 11, 2014

Reuters reported clashes on the outskirts of Slovyansk today in a piece that also points out the referendum, organized at break-neck pace and with few safeguards against fraud, is likely to fuel further conflict rather than settle anything.

The Obama administration has staunchly opposed the votes, with the State Department yesterday describing the votes as "illegal" and suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin is responsible:

Where this is all leading is hard to say, and much will depend on the actions of Moscow. President Putin has repeatedly referred to the need for his government to protect ethnic-Russians in Ukraine and elsewhere, and appears determined to weaken Kiev as much as possible. Fred Weir wrote for the Monitor on Friday that the popular Putin appears to be inspiring a new form of Russian nationalism with expansionist dreams.

How deep is separatist sentiment in Ukraine's East? A Pew public opinion survey released last week and conducted between April 4-20, found that a large majority of all Ukrainians in the east - 70 percent - favor a united Ukraine, though among Russian-speakers in the east this number dropped to 56 percent.

Meanwhile, sporadic bloodshed ups the chances of direct Russian military involvement. The AP reports that Ukrainian national guadsmen opened fire outside a crowded hall in the eastern Ukrainian town of Krasnoarmeisk during clashes with separatists over shutting down the referendum and that there were reports of casualties.