Russia is starting early voting today in the territories of Ukraine it has placed under its controlin the context of elections to be held in several regions of Russia on September 10, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

Moscow has taken over just under 20% of Ukrainian territory: Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, as well as most of Luhansk Oblast and parts of Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson.

The elections in these zones, which Ukraine condemned, will be held on September 10, but the occupation authorities are organizing “early voting” from today in the regions of Donetsk and Zaporizhia and from September 2 in those of Kherson and Luhansk.

These will highlight regional parliaments and municipal councils.

Despite strong Western condemnations, Russia declared the annexation of these territories in September 2022 following procedures that Moscow described as “referendums”. The international community did not recognize their results.

Almost a year later, Russia only partially controls these regions where fighting is raging.

Ukraine is conducting a large counter-attack along the length of the almost 1,000 km front and mainly hopes for progress in the Robotine zonein the region of Zaporizhia.

Many Russian regions will also vote on September 10 to elect governors, regional deputies or even city councilors.

There is virtually no opposition represented in these elections, as the Russian authorities have engaged in a campaign to silence any critical voice, especially those critical of its invasion of Ukraine.

The country’s most prominent opposition figures are either in prison or living in self-imposed exile in other countries.