UPDATE: While earlier exit polls indicated strong support, the preliminary results are now being announced: *CRIMEA TO JOIN RUSSIA BACKED BY 95.5%: PRELIMINARY RESULTS *CRIMEA TO REMAIN IN UKRAINE BACKED BY 3.5%: PRELIMINARY RESULTS Crimea will apply tomorrow to join Russia: Crimea's regional government will make a formal application today to join the Russian Federation, the local pro-Moscow leader said on Twitter after a disputed referendum to break away from Ukraine. "The Supreme Soviet of Crimea will make an official application for the republic to join the Russian Federation at a meeting on March 17," Sergiy ... (full story)