Fear and uncertainly loom in eastern Ukraine

With its closed cafes and empty gas stations, parts of Luhansk seem desolate and deserted.

Like in other eastern Ukrainian cities, its streets are filled with barricades.

And armed men who've declared the region an election-free zone.

Residents say that declaration will keep people from voting in Sunday's presidential election.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) LUHANSK RESIDENT, OLEKSANDER CHEREDNICHENKO, SAYING:

"They've scared all the people. People are afraid to go out at night here, and because of the latest events, a lot of people are afraid that if they go to a polling station that gunmen will come there and will chase them out, in the best case scenario, and, in the worst case scenario, shoot them."

This man and his family visited what would normally be a polling location.

Although voting booths had been set up, there were no ballot boxes in place and no sign of electoral staff.

The situation was only slightly better in Mariupol.

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