( CNN ) -- Some people believed that one of the most democratic ways out of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine was to let people of Crimea decide their fates for themselves through a referendum . But there were a few serious flaws with that `` democratic '' approach . Sunday , March 16 , was a day many Ukrainians waited for with concern and dread . Originally , the referendum was planned for May 25 , then moved up to March 30 and then once again moved to March 16 . Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov and Vladimir Konstantinov , speaker of Crimean Parliament , were eager to accomplish the task Russian President Vladimir Putin had given them . That task was to provide Russia with some kind of excuse for a military intervention that had in fact started on February 28 , when there were reports of Russian soldiers occupying the Crimean Peninsula . Long before the referendum took place , the international community expressed concerns about its legitimacy , and many people in Ukraine considered it illegal . This kind of referendum violates the Ukrainian Constitution , which specifies that it can be done only countrywide . And does this mean that Russia can invade any country where there is a Russian-speaking enclave ? Russia even owned Alaska once . Should they get that back , too ? Crimea 's vote : Was it legal ? To no surprise , Aksyonov reported that more than 80 % of people in Crimea voted in the referendum and 96 % voted for Crimea to join Russia . The results themselves did n't matter , as everybody knew they would be false . There are certainly some people who have been brainwashed by Russian TV channels ( Ukrainian stations have been cut off in Crimea ) and do believe in lies that in Russia Crimea will be given all kinds of advantages and privileges . But also consider that the vote took place under the guns of Russian troops and residents were given less than two weeks to prepare . It is unsafe to be pro-Ukrainian in Crimea right now , as the region is controlled by Russian military and hired thugs . The announcement of results signaled to the people of Ukraine that a quiet waiting period of our conflict with Russia is probably over . Even though the United Nations , European Union , United States and other international observers do not recognize results of referendum , Russia is still claiming that Crimea will join with them . So the tension has come up to higher levels . The Ukrainian Parliament has announced partial mobilization of army reserves . Annexation of Crimea opportune or opportunistic ? My friends and colleagues in Crimea tell me that people are standing in long lines to withdraw money from banks . Many ATMs do not have cash , and stores do not accept credit cards . Retired people are concerned about their pensions being paid on time . Ukrainians are still not sure what their preparations should be . Will our troops try to liberate Crimea from Russian invaders ? Will Russian troops try to invade eastern regions of Ukraine where Russian provocateurs have been trying to cause trouble , too ? Did Putin set his goals not just for Crimea but the whole of Ukraine ? Putin keeps talking about Ukraine as a failed state and the Ukrainian government as not legitimate , though it 's recognized by all other countries in the world . The bottom line is this : The referendum is a farce that the whole world has pronounced illegitimate , but it is being used by Putin to escalate conflict to next level . His ambitions for restoring the Soviet Union in the form of a new Russian Empire are no secret . Even Putin 's allies , such as Belarus and Kazakhstan , are nervous . It 's hard to not be concerned if you live anywhere in Ukraine -- or in Poland , Latvia , Lithuania or Estonia . Are you in Ukraine , Crimea or Russia ? Have you witnessed the unrest ? What do you think about the region 's future ? Share your stories with CNN iReport , but please stay safe . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Maia Mikhaluk .
Maia Mikhaluk : Crimea 's referendum to join Russia was not democratic . `` The vote took place under the guns of Russian troops , '' says the Kiev resident . Mikhaluk says there are already problems with banks and credit cards . She has been documenting unrest in her country since February .