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Ukraine Declares Russian Vote in Occupied Areas Illegal

8/14/2026

Summary

Story summary

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry declared the Russian parliamentary elections in occupied Ukrainian territories illegal and null.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022 and annexed four regions about seven months later.
Ex-Soviet observers began a mission Thursday to assess whether the vote meets free-and-fair standards.
Ukraine's ministry said the observers do not change the election’s illegality and that Russia seeks to legitimize the outcome.

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Story summary

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry declared the Russian parliamentary elections in occupied Ukrainian territories illegal and null.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022 and annexed four regions about seven months later.
Ex-Soviet observers began a mission Thursday to assess whether the vote meets free-and-fair standards.
Ukraine's ministry said the observers do not change the election’s illegality and that Russia seeks to legitimize the outcome.