“The Ukrainian government claims the election was a farce and the US called it illegal. Nonetheless, Separatists Urge Russia to Annex Donetsk in Wake of Referendum.”
To this point, Russia has stopped short of recognizing the sham referendum.
Russia is using the E.Ukrainians as pawns to achieve their territorial goals. The Russians may have changed tack. This may not work out so well for Putin’s beloved “Russian” speakers.