Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has enacted sanctions against 44 individuals accused of helping organize what Kyiv described as illegal Russian elections in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories. The sanctions target people allegedly acting in Russia’s interests in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as Crimea and Sevastopol. The list includes individuals presented as deputies of Russian-backed local councils, propagandist Irina Kuksenkova and former Ukrainian lawmaker Iurii Onishchuk, who authorities say cooperated with Russian forces after the occupation of Melitopol. Ukraine said the elections have no legal standing and violate international law, arguing that an occupying power cannot alter the status of occupied territory through voting or administrative measures. Presidential sanctions adviser Vladyslav Vlasiuk said the measures were intended to respond to those involved and to support coordination with international partners. The Ukrainian government said information about the sanctioned individuals would be shared with other countries. It added that the European Union, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Australia, Canada and New Zealand have not recognized elections held in the occupied territories. Post navigation Parliament Sets Agenda for Key EU Debates