Parliamentary elections in Russia: For the first time, voters from annexed Ukrainian regions are also voting

For the first time, residents of regions that Moscow illegally annexed from Ukraine are participating in parliamentary elections in Russia.

Officials in Kyiv have sharply condemned this move as illegal, and a human rights activist described the situation by saying that local residents are being forced to participate in the elections.

Although voting across Russia began on Friday and lasts until Sunday to increase turnout, voting in the annexed parts of Ukraine and certain areas on the Russian side of the border has actually been taking place since the end of last month.

Officials have cited security reasons as justification for the extended voting period.

Russian authorities state that in the territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—which officials in Moscow often refer to as “new regions”—there are more than 3.5 million voters. Russia annexed them in September 2022, although they were not fully under Moscow’s control. This move is not internationally recognized.

In a speech delivered on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the importance of voting for the State Duma—the lower house of parliament—in these regions.

Residents of these areas will vote for the Duma “for the first time since reunification with Russia.”

He noted that Russian soldiers participating in the fighting will also vote.

Voting is also being held in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Moscow illegally annexed in 2014.

The goal of these first State Duma elections under wartime conditions is to ensure the Kremlin’s political dominance and demonstrate public support for the war.

“Your choice and determination will once again show that millions of people stand behind our fighters, that we are a united people, connected by common values, historical memory, and love for the homeland, and that no one can divide or intimidate us, nor undermine our statehood and political system,” Putin said.

Authorities in Kyiv have deemed the voting in these territories illegal and have called on foreign governments and international organizations not to recognize the elections.