In Donetsk, eastern Ukraine's former industrial capital and the separatists' political and military stronghold, Soviet music blared out of speakers in front of a central voting station carrying the separatist's red black and blue flag.
Across the region suffering from years of neglect and months of war between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels, people stood in freezing temperatures to cast their vote
Self-proclaimed election officials say early results suggest Alexander Zakharchenko will become the regional head in Donetsk, while Igor Plotnisky will secure a victory in Luhansk.
The rebels also staged what they called parliamentary elections in the two regions - collectively known as Donbas
Rebel leaders earlier said that as independent states they were not required to observe Ukrainian law, and therefore did not participate in Ukraine's national elections last week.
They said three million ballots had been printed for the polls, which would provide for directly elected presidents and parliaments.
"These elections are important because they will give legitimacy to our power and give us more distance from Kiev," Roman Lyagin, election commission chief of the Donetsk region, told
The central government in Kiev also described as a "farce" the polls in the two self-proclaimed people's republics in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the polls were "a new obstacle on the path towards peace".Mogherini said the vote in the Donetsk and Luhansk self-proclaimed republics "is illegal and illegitimate, and the European Union will not recognise it".
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called Sunday polls "a farce" and "a gross violation" of the Minsk agreement, which was also signed by Russia.
In Moscow, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that it "respects the will of the people of the south-east".
It also called for a "sustainable dialogue" between the authorities in Kiev and the rebels.
Russia said it "respects the will of the people" in the polls, where the two current rebel leaders are set to win.
Alexander Zakharchenko, the prime minister of the self-declared government in Donetsk, has won more than 70% of the vote and is set to become the region's head
Igor Plotnitsky, the prime minister of the self-declared government in Luhansk, has secured more than 60% of the vote.
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