Residents of breakaway cities Donetsk and Lugansk went to the polls Sunday to elect representatives to self-proclaimed people's republics.

Election organisers portray the vote as a decisive development in the break from Ukrainian rule by the mainly Russian-speaking regions.

Moscow has indicated its backing for the elections, while the UN, European Union and US insist that they violate Ukraine's constitution and the terms of a current ceasefire.

Donetsk People's Republic leader Alexander Zakharchenko, who is standing for election, said that he hoped that the polls would help bring peace to the region.

"If they give us recognition and return the land we've lost without putting up a fight, then we will restore normal economic ties and we will live like equal economic partners," he said.

Elections commission head Roman Lyagin said that 350 polling stations were operating yesterday and that 1.4 million people were eligible to vote.