When did Russia begin early voting in occupied parts of Ukraine?

Russia commenced early voting in occupied areas of Ukraine's Donetsk region on September 14. Early balloting had also started on August 29 in other Russian-held southern regions.

How was the early voting conducted in temporarilly occupied part of Ukraine?

Mobile polling teams, accompanied by armed Russian servicemen and police, visited residents' homes to allow them to cast ballots outside their residences. Election officials and members of Russia's Central Electoral Commission oversaw the process.

Why does Russia claim early voting is necessary in frontline areas?

Authorities have stated that early voting in frontline areas is necessary due to martial law and to ensure the protection of election workers and voters.

Category: World

Russia Sends Armed Troops Alongside Mobile Election Teams to Occupied Donetsk

Sep 17, 2026 15:48 Updated Sep 17, 2026 16:58

2 min read

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Authors: Roman Kohanets
News Writer

A resident casts a ballot during Russian-organized early voting in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region as an armed serviceman stands beside a mobile ballot box, September 14, 2026. (Source: Euronews)

Russia opened early voting for its parliamentary elections in temporarily occupied parts of Ukraine's Donetsk region on September 14, dispatching mobile polling teams to residents' homes alongside armed Russian servicemen and police.

The scenes appeared in footage published by Euronews on September 15. The video showed election officials moving through rural settlements with ballot boxes and portable voting booths.

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According to the footage, residents cast their ballots outside their homes while Russian servicemen and police officers stood nearby. Members of Russia's Central Electoral Commission oversaw the process alongside the armed personnel. Euronews noted that the video did not establish how many residents took part or provide turnout figures for the early voting.

A resident casts a ballot during Russian-organized early voting in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region as an armed serviceman stands beside a mobile ballot box, September 14, 2026. (Source: Euronews)

Russia's nationwide parliamentary election is scheduled for September 18–20. Authorities have organized early voting in frontline areas as well, claiming the measures are necessary under martial law and to protect election workers and voters.

Ukraine has warned residents of temporarily occupied territories against participating in Russia's election structures. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has stated that organizing or promoting such voting can constitute a criminal offense under Ukrainian law, carrying penalties of up to 10 years in prison.

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The staged voting extends a pattern that opened weeks earlier across other occupied regions.

Early balloting began on August 29 in Russian-held parts of southern Ukraine, where the identities of soldiers killed in action were allegedly used to fabricate votes for the ruling United Russia party.

Within Russia's 291st Motor Rifle Regiment in the Zaporizhzhia sector, clerical staff reportedly delayed registering dead troops as killed, keeping their names active on unit records. Officers then filled out ballots in those names and delivered them to voting sites in occupied Melitopol, Berdiansk, and Tokmak.

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In a Nutshell

Russia commenced early voting in occupied areas of Ukraine's Donetsk region on September 14. Early balloting had also started on August 29 in other Russian-held southern regions.
Mobile polling teams, accompanied by armed Russian servicemen and police, visited residents' homes to allow them to cast ballots outside their residences. Election officials and members of Russia's Central Electoral Commission oversaw the process.
Ukraine has warned residents against participating in Russia's election structures. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has stated that organizing or promoting such voting can be a criminal offense under Ukrainian law, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Authorities have stated that early voting in frontline areas is necessary due to martial law and to ensure the protection of election workers and voters.

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