The votes began on Thursday in Russian-held parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east, as well as in Zaporizhzhia in the southeast and Kherson in the south, the Reuters news agency reported.
In October 2022, three-quarters of countries at the United Nations General Assembly, including Poland, condemned Russia’s “attempted illegal annexation” of the four Ukrainian provinces.
In the elections that are scheduled to run until September 10, the Russian-installed governors of the four regions are seeking full terms of office, according to Reuters.
All the governors received endorsement from Russian President Vladimir Putin and are facing only nominal opposition, Britain’s The Guardian newspaper reported.
Ukrainian officials described the elections as “illegal” and proof that it is impossible to hold any peace talks with Russia until the Kremlin withdraws all its forces from Ukraine, Reuters reported.
Ukrainian forces advance in counteroffensive against Russia: ISW
Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops have made gains near the eastern city of Bakhmut and in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region on Thursday, as they continue their counteroffensive against Russia’s invading forces, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported.
The US think tank wrote: “Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast and in western Zaporizhia Oblast on August 31 and reportedly advanced in both sectors of the front.”
Ukraine’s push in the south through Zaporizhzhia is intended to reach the Sea of Azov and split Russian forces, The Guardian reported.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Ukraine was producing long-range missiles, which is likely part of Kyiv’s coordinated campaign to expand strike capabilities against Russia's deep rear areas, the Ukrainska Pravda website reported.
According to Zelensky, a Ukraine-made long-range missile had successfully struck a target 700 kilometres away, Ukrainska Pravda said.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Friday is day 555 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, Reuters, The Guardian, ISW, Ukrainska Pravda