Russia Holds Parliamentary Elections in Illegally Annexed Ukrainian Regions
Russia is holding its parliamentary election for the first time in Ukrainian regions it illegally annexed.
Baltimore, MD, September 19, 2026 —
Russia has commenced its parliamentary elections, notably extending voting to Ukrainian territories that it has illegally annexed. This marks the first time that residents in these annexed areas are participating in Russian federal elections.
The electoral process is taking place in regions including Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. These territories, which were part of Ukraine, were declared annexed by Russia following referendums widely condemned by the international community as illegitimate. Ukrainian authorities and many Western governments have denounced the elections as a violation of international law and Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Details regarding the specific number of polling stations, the candidates participating, or the expected voter turnout in these annexed regions have not been provided in the summary. The mechanics of how citizens in these areas are registered and vote are also not specified.
The move to include these territories in the Russian electoral system underscores Russia’s assertion of control over them. However, the legality and international recognition of these annexations remain a significant point of contention on the global stage. The elections are being observed, with various international bodies and countries offering differing perspectives on their validity and fairness.
Story summarized from the original created by The Associated Press on www.npr.org, see more information here.
Media gallery
