Russia holds parliamentary vote in areas it illegally annexed from Ukraine in the war, tell me about this news in (https://www.nbcnews.com/world/russia/russia-holds-parliamentary-vote-areas-illegally-annexed-ukraine-war-rcna598671)
19-09-2026
The news reported in the NBC News coverage regarding Russia holding votes in the annexed territories of Ukraine centers on the following key points:
The Scope and Regions: Voting was organized in four Ukrainian regions that Russia claimed to have annexed in September 2022namely Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Khersondespite not having full military control over any of them. The elections involved choosing regional legislatures and local council members, who in turn select the regional governors.
Objective for Moscow: The Kremlin used the regional and local elections to consolidate political and administrative control over these occupied areas, normalize Russian authority, and present an image of integration and legitimacy to its domestic audience. The ruling United Russia party heavily dominated the candidates and local governance structures.
Voting Conditions on the Ground: Reports highlighted that voting occurred under tight military and security measures. Election workers, accompanied by armed Russian soldiers and security forces, went door-to-door with mobile ballot boxes to gather votes, alongside setting up makeshift and standard polling locations. Ukrainian officials and local residents described the process as coercive, noting that participating was effectively enforced under armed oversight.
Ukrainian Response: Ukraine condemned the elections as an illegitimate sham and a severe violation of international law. The Ukrainian government urged citizens in occupied territories not to participate, called on residents to leave or avoid the polls if possible, and warned that assisting or collaborating with the Russian-run electoral administration could lead to legal prosecution for treason or collaboration.
International Condemnation: The United States, the European Union, the United Nations, and numerous international allies strongly denounced the balloting, declaring the votes void, illegal, and an infringement on Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. International bodies emphasized that the outcomes would not be recognized and constituted an attempt by Moscow to fabricate legitimacy for seized Ukrainian territories.