Russia holds parliamentary vote in areas it seized from Ukraine in the war

Russia is conducting parliamentary elections in Ukrainian regions it has seized since the start of its full-scale invasion. These elections mark the first time Moscow has held such voting processes in these specific territories, which it claims to have annexed during the ongoing conflict.

Ukrainian officials have formally denounced the elections as illegal. Additionally, reports from human rights activists indicate that residents in these occupied areas are being coerced into participating in the voting process.