The Security Service of Ukraine is calling residents of Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories not to participate in the illegal elections planned by the kremlin for 18 to 20 September this year.

Under the guidance of their supervisors from moscow, the gauleiters of russia’s occupation administrations are once again planning to involve residents of the temporarily occupied territories in a sham plebiscite.

This is an attempt by russia to legitimise the kremlin regime in Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories and gather ‘votes’ in support of the pro-government political forces of the aggressor state.

Previously, for example, the ruscists enlisted residents of the temporarily occupied territories to serve on the occupation ‘electoral commissions’ and organise mass campaign events in russia’s favour.

Methods used by the enemy to encourage Ukrainian citizens to participate in the pseudo-referendum held in September 2022 in the temporarily occupied parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions have been documented.

In 2023, the ruscists held so-called elections for the regional authorities of the aggressor state in the temporarily occupied territories.

Representatives of the russian occupation administrations similarly included local residents in ‘electoral commissions’ and campaign teams urging citizens to ‘vote’ in the kremlin’s favour.

The Security Service of Ukraine emphasises that such activities are unlawful and participation in their organisation is subject to criminal liability under Article 111-1.5 of the CCU (participation in the organisation and conduct of unlawful elections and/or referendums in the temporarily occupied territory or public calls to hold such elections and/or referendums).

The crime under this Article is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and confiscation of property.

The Security Service once again calls on residents of Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories not to aid the kremlin regime in its war against our state.

Do not help the occupiers legitimise their presence!

Do not help the enemy impose their rules on Ukrainian soil!

If you have any information about individuals assisting the enemy in preparing for the sham referendum, please report it to the SSU:

• Burn the FSB-man chatbot – t.me/spaly_fsb_bot
• Hot line: 1516
• Email: 1516@ssu.gov.ua