Kremlin is frantically staffing police units in occupied territories: Ukraine’s defense ministry explains why

This was reported by the Deputy Head of Ukraine Defense Ministry of Ukraine Hanna Maliar.

"The Kremlin is accelerating the filling of vacant positions in the structural units of the occupation law enforcement agencies in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. In particular, in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. The reason for this rush is the need to provide police support for the so-called elections in the temporarily occupied territories as part of the "Single Election Day" in September," she wrote.

The official stressed that the Russian occupier's holding of the so-called elections in the temporarily occupied territories is a violation of international law.

"Their results will mean nothing but a crime for the organizers and executors," Maliar stressed.

• On 5 October last year, Putin signed "laws" on the so-called accession of four regions of Ukraine to Russia. He also appointed Denis Pushilin as "acting head of the DPR" and Leonid Pasechnyk as "acting head of the LPR". Vladimir Saldo became the "governor" of Kherson region, and Yevgeny Balitsky became the "governor" of Zaporizhzhia.

• On 15 June 2023, Russia announced "elections" in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. The so-called vote is scheduled for September 10.