An official who worked with the Russian authorities and was responsible for organizing the elections was killed today when her car exploded in Berdianskon Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia, as announced by Moscow.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago, many officials appointed by Moscow in the territories it controls have come under attack. Today’s bombing occurs one week before the presidential elections (March 15-17) which will also be held in the occupied territories.

“On the morning of March 6, an improvised explosive device was placed under the vehicle of a member of the district election committee,” the investigative committee said in its statement. “The victim succumbed to his injuries at a hospital,” he added.

The Moscow-appointed head of the Zaporizhia region, Yevgeny Balitsky, blamed Ukrainian authorities for the attack, saying it was an attempt at “intimidation” by Kiev ahead of presidential elections. “They hope to block the legitimate expression of our will, which is impossible,” he said.

Ukraine’s military intelligence service (GUR) confirmed that Svetlana Samoilenko, “who organized Putin’s fake elections in the occupied territories of Zaporizhia, was killed,” but did not claim responsibility.

In 2022, Russia announced the annexation of Zaporizhia, where Berdyansk is located, as well as the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson, although it does not fully control them. Elections will also be held in the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed in 2014.