Kremlin plans illegal elections to tighten grip on occupied Ukraine

For the "effectiveness" of this fake voting, a special application is set to be launched to help "voters" cast their vote for the desired candidate or file a complaint, reports the Ukrainska Pravda portal, citing the Ukrainian government.

The illegal elections are planned for September 14, 2025, and September 20, 2026. Their aim is to increase the number of "deputies" from these territories in the State Duma of the Russian Federation.

This move is intended to legitimize and strengthen the Kremlin's authority over the occupied territories of Ukraine, particularly in the Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

"Putin is counting on creating a fictitious representation of these regions in the Russian parliament," the report states.

Russian and North Korean forces suffered heavy casualties in battles taking place on Friday and Saturday in the Kursk region, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"In the battles near just one village, Makhnivka, the Russian army lost up to a battalion of North Korean infantry soldiers and Russian paratroopers (...). This is significant," Zelensky said in his evening video address.

Zelensky did not provide further details. The Reuters agency noted that a battalion can vary in size but usually consists of several hundred soldiers.

The president announced that preparations are underway for the planned January 9 Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at the Ramstein Air Base. The meeting will involve "partner countries (...) that can increase our capabilities not only in defence against missiles but also against guided bombs and Russian aviation. We will talk to them about it, convince them. Life in Ukraine needs protection here and now," said Zelensky.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda