Russia launches early voting in occupied Ukrainian territories
Russia began early voting on 14 September in occupied Ukrainian areas, including Donetsk, ahead of its national parliamentary election, with mobile teams reaching voters under armed military escort. Kyiv and Western governments call the vote illegal.
Russia started early voting on 14 September in several frontline and occupied Ukrainian regions ahead of its nationwide parliamentary election, scheduled to run from 18 to 20 September. Footage showed mobile polling teams visiting homes in rural areas, carrying ballot boxes and portable voting booths, while residents cast ballots outside their houses. Members of Russia's Central Electoral Commission oversaw the process alongside Russian servicemen and police officers.
The Kremlin describes the election as a gauge of public opinion on the war in Ukraine, now entering its fifth year. In Donetsk, election officials moved between settlements accompanied by police and armed military personnel. Russian authorities say such security measures are required to comply with martial law imposed by Moscow and to protect both voters and election workers. The available footage did not show how many people had voted or provide turnout figures.
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has warned residents of occupied areas against participating, saying that organising or promoting the vote could constitute a criminal offence under Ukrainian law, carrying a prison sentence of up to 10 years. Still, questions remain over how much choice residents actually have when armed soldiers arrive at their doorstep.
Kyiv and Western governments regard elections held in occupied Ukrainian territory as illegal, calling them a "sham election" designed to legitimise Moscow's control over the regions.
