A referendum is taking place in Crimea today, to vote on whether or not the region should become part of Russia.

The mainly Russian speaking region has been the focus of rising tensions in Ukraine, since former President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted last month.

The people of Crimea are casting their votes today, in a referendum on whether the region should split from Ukraine, and become part of the Russian Federation instead.

Polling stations across the region opened at 6 o'clock, and preliminary results are expected in just a few hours time.

The 1.5 million strong electorate are being given two options- a direct move to join Russia, or simply independence from Ukraine.

A majority of ethnic Russians live in Crimea- and it's likely they'll vote for a total move to neighbouring Russia.

Yesterday, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution to declare the referendum as invalid.

The resolution was not passed, after it got 13 votes in the 15 member council.

China abstained from the vote.

Ukraine and much of the west has dismissed the referendum as illegal.

Polling will close at 6 o'clock this evening.

 

Svetlana Kalisetskaya is the chairwoman of one of the polling committee's in the region.

Speaking through a translator, she says she expects a big turn out.