In the Kherson region, 15 organizers of illegal elections to the Russian State Duma were exposed

The Office of the Prosecutor General has identified 15 Ukrainian citizens who were involved in organizing and conducting illegal elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. All of them have been notified in absentia that they are suspected of collaboration.

This refers to the illegal elections to the Russian State Duma that were held in the occupied territories of Ukraine on September 18–20, 2026.

In a Telegram post on Thursday, the office reported that to organize and conduct the illegal elections, the occupying administration created an extensive network of illegal electoral bodies and enlisted Ukrainian citizens to work within it.

According to the prosecutor’s office, among those identified as organizers are two leaders of the “Kherson Oblast Election Commission”—illegally established by the occupiers—who coordinated the work of illegal territorial and precinct commissions, the registration of candidates, and the organization of the illegal elections, as well as seven heads of illegal “territorial election commissions” in the Nizhnesirohozka, Ivanivska, Novokakhovska, Kakhovska, Kalanchak, Henichesk, and Holoprystanska communities.

“They organized the work of the polling stations, supplied them with ballots, and collected preliminary data on the number of ‘votes,’” the statement reads.

In addition, according to the statement, six heads of illegal “polling station election commissions” in the Ivanivka municipal district created by the occupiers, as well as in Verkhniy Rohachyk, Tavrichanka, Rozdolne, Novotroitske, and Askania-Nova. “They compiled ‘voter lists,’ organized campaigning, and encouraged local residents to ‘vote,’” the agency specified.

A separate component of the illegal process, as noted by the prosecutor’s office, was mobile teams whose members went door-to-door and enticed people to participate in the illegal voting.

According to the investigation, each of the 15 suspects performed a specific role within a unified system created by the occupying administration.

Law enforcement officials are identifying other individuals involved in organizing and conducting the illegal electoral process in the temporarily occupied territory of the region.

This information comes from the Office of the Prosecutor General.

The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation announced the first results of the so-called State Duma elections.

A three-day voting period for the State Duma elections began in Russia on September 18. It will last until September 20. At the same time, even before the main voting began, independent Russian media and representatives of opposition forces reported pressure on observers, coercion of public sector employees, and possible violations during the organization of the vote.

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.

Through its Foreign Intelligence Service, Russia has launched a new propaganda campaign to create the illusion of legitimacy for the September “elections” to the State Duma. A statement from the SVR claims that the EU, PACE, and Western intelligence agencies are allegedly preparing acts of destabilization, cyberattacks, and provocations, as well as enlisting the Russian opposition to discredit the vote.