In the Donetsk region, the occupiers are holding early voting in sham elections at gunpoint
In the temporarily occupied part of Donetsk Oblast, Russian invaders have begun early mobile “voting” for the elections to the Russian State Duma. Mobile teams from so-called election commissions are visiting local residents, always accompanied by armed occupation security forces, and the occupiers are relying primarily on this early mobile voting format, which will continue until September 17.
According to information from occupation sources, 633 “polling stations” have allegedly been set up in the region, each assigned to mobile teams that visit residents directly at their places of residence and according to voter lists. This year, for the first time, Russia is attempting to involve residents of the occupied territories in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions in the State Duma elections by creating pseudo-districts there, while voting for Russian military personnel near the front lines has been organized since August 30.
This is reported by Russian propaganda outlets.
Russia is preparing to hold illegal “elections” to the State Duma in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Voting is scheduled for September 18–20, 2026.
Russia plans to rig the so-called State Duma “elections” in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, ensuring a voter turnout of over 65–70% and at least 70% support for the “United Russia” party.
