Russia Claims United Russia Party Victory in Ukrainian Regions

Russia Claims United Russia Party Victory in Ukrainian Regions. Image/NDTV

In a move strongly contested by Ukraine and its allies, Russia has claimed victory for the United Russia party in local elections held in four Ukrainian regions that are currently occupied by Russia. These regions, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, have been the center of conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists.

Kremlin’s Assertion of Annexation

Russia had previously annexed the eastern and southern territories despite not having full military control over them. The elections in these regions, which have been dismissed as a sham by Ukraine, have reportedly shown more than 70% of the vote in favor of the United Russia party, according to data published by Moscow and proxy officials.

Election Impact on Presidential Elections

These local elections in Russia come ahead of the presidential elections next year, which are expected to extend President Vladimir Putin’s rule until at least 2030. Many of Putin’s political opponents are either in exile or imprisoned, and the Russian government has implemented laws criminalizing criticism of its actions in Ukraine.

Security Concerns and International Reaction

Security concerns surrounded the elections in the conflict-affected regions, with reports of Ukrainian drone attacks and shelling. Ukrainian security services have compiled a list of “collaborators” involved in organizing the voting and have vowed retribution.

Moscow Mayoral Election and Voter Sentiment

In Moscow, which also held a mayoral election, incumbent Sergei Sobyanin won a convincing reelection. Moscow residents had praised Sobyanin for modernizing the city, despite recent drone attacks in the region.

Competitive Race in Khakassia

One of the few competitive races in Russia was reported in Siberia’s Khakassia region, where incumbent governor Valentin Konovalov is seeking re-election. Konovalov, a Communist, had previously defeated a Kremlin-backed candidate in 2018 amid protests in the region.

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