The Russian Federation announced the holding on September 8-10 2023 of the so-called "elections" to local occupation authorities in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions of Ukraine, as well as in Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

These actions of the Russian Federation brutally violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Ukrainian legislation as well as norms and principles of the international law, namely the United Nations Charter.

Russia’s sham elections in the temporarily occupied territories are null and void. They will have no legal consequences and will not bring any changes in the international status of Ukrainian territories seized by Russian military forces. By conducting fake elections in Ukrainian regions and in Crimea Moscow continues delegitimizing Russia’s legal system.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine calls upon international partners to condemn worthless and self-willed actions of the Russian Federation and not to recognize the legitimacy of any “administration” created by these illegal elections, as well as any decisions that will be taken by them.

All persons, involved in the conduct of pseudo-elections, including the leadership of the Russian Federation, representatives of occupation administrations and electoral bodies must be brought to account. We also initiate the imposition of new international sanctions against them.