A

group of armed Kremlin-backed rebels in possession of a 100,000 ballots already marked

with a ‘yes’ vote for the May 11 referendum in Donetsk Oblast were captured and the ballots seized during

the Ukrainian government’s anti-terrorist operation near the rebel-occupied city of

Sloviansk on May 10.

In

addition, a Kalashnikov rifle, Makarov pistol, plus ammunition were seized, Obezrevatel

reported. Earlier, Ukrainska Pravada

reported that the separatists had seized 80 schools in Donetsk city to carry out

their referendum.