The Diplomat
The Government of Spain has shown its rejection of the local elections that take place in the occupied areas of the four Ukrainian regions annexed in September 2022 by Russia, describing these acts as “attempts” to carry out “illegitimate voting simulations in the territories temporarily occupied” Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Crimea.
“Spain reiterates its firm support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders,” said the acting Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a message posted on the X social network.
Voting began on Friday in the occupied areas of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia provinces, as well as the Crimean peninsula – annexed in 2014 – and the rest of Russian territory.
For its part, the Government of Ukraine denounced that Russia’s local elections in occupied areas “violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of the country and stressed that “they are useless” and “will have no legal consequences.”
