Ukraine's Foreign Ministry: no Russian elections held at gunpoint are legitimate

What Happened

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement declaring that no Russian elections held at gunpoint are legitimate and urging foreign states, international organisations and other subjects of international law not to recognise Russia's State Duma and regional parliament elections scheduled for 18-20 September in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. The ministry called the elections 'a farce staged by the occupying state' and said they create no legal grounds for extending Russia's jurisdiction over any part of Ukraine's territory. It warned that participation in the 'illegal action' will carry legal consequences in national and international jurisdictions. The MFA cited the 2014 UN General Assembly vote in which 143 member states affirmed the occupation was illegal and demanded Russia withdraw its troops from all Ukrainian territories within internationally recognised borders. It named Crimea and Sevastopol, and temporarily occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts as integral parts of Ukraine. The article's background noted that during the three-day voting from 18 to 21 September, mobile communications and the internet may be switched off, and that systematic pressure on observers, coercion of public sector workers and widespread falsifications have been recorded across Russia.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Ukraine's diplomatic offensive aims to prevent international normalisation of Russian electoral claims in occupied territories, reinforce that occupation confers no sovereign rights, and provide legal groundwork for prosecuting participants. It also underscores Ukraine's longer-term strategy of using international law and UN votes to counter Russian assertions of legitimacy, as the elections are set to include representatives from Crimea and occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts into the State Duma.

Watch For

Monitor whether the United States, EU member states, the United Kingdom and other international organisations issue statements refusing to recognise the 18-20 September elections and any deputies elected from occupied Ukrainian territories. Watch for reports of internet or mobile communications shutdowns during voting on 18-21 September and any legal actions announced against participants. Also watch for Russia's response and whether the new State Duma's composition is contested internationally.