The United Kingdom has condemned Russia's recent State Duma elections held in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, including Crimea and parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Ambassador Holland stated that these actions violate Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the principles of the Helsinki Final Act.
The UK government does not recognise these elections or Russia's attempted annexation of Ukrainian territory. It maintains that borders cannot be redrawn through force, repression, or fabricated ballots.
Ambassador Holland highlighted that residents in these areas have been drawn into Russian electoral structures through imposed administration, Russian passport requirements, and voting arrangements that expose households to direct pressure. The UK views these elections as an instrument of occupation, designed to manufacture legitimacy for the occupation and make the results of aggression appear permanent.