Russia says it will hold presidential balloting in occupied regions of Ukraine next year
Associated Press
Russian election authorities say balloting in next year’s presidential election will be conducted in four partially occupied Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed in 2022 following its invasion. The Central Election Commission adopted the decree to proceed with the vote in the Russian-controlled parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Balloting will also take place in the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Ukraine has condemned Russia’s intentions and seeks international sanctions for those involved. Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced his candidacy for the March election and is all but certain to win another six-year term.
