Ukraine’s presidential election has expanded to include residents of four regions annexed by Russia, a move Moscow claims legitimizes its control over the territories. Kyiv’s government has rejected the vote as unlawful, insisting the areas remain under Ukrainian sovereignty. The election marks a rare opportunity for locals in the disputed regions to participate in a Ukrainian-led process, though international recognition of the results remains uncertain. Tensions over the vote highlight the ongoing conflict and competing claims over the territories’ political future.
For the first time, voting includes residents of four Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed. Authorities in Kyiv denounced the voting as illegal.
