Russia Conducts Election in Occupied Ukrainian Territories
What Happened
Russia has included residents of the occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions in its parliamentary election for the first time since annexing the territories in 2022. Russian authorities say more than 3.5 million voters are eligible in these regions. Ukraine and its Western allies continue to regard these regions as sovereign Ukrainian territory. Multiple international reports said the vote is taking place despite ongoing international disputes over the status of the occupied areas.
Key Takeaways
The elections are likely to deepen tensions between Moscow and Kyiv, with Ukraine expected to dismiss the vote as illegitimate and part of Russia’s effort to tighten control over occupied areas.