Ukrainian drone strike kills election official linked to Russia's occupied-zone referendums

According to Russian state-controlled reports, Elena Astanina, who served as chairperson of Precinct Electoral Commission No. 394 in the Russian-installed electoral system of Tokmak, was killed on Sept. 15 by a Ukrainian drone strike in Zhovtneve, a village within the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The Central Election Commission identified her as a long-time official involved in organizing the so-called referendums in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, which Ukraine and most of the world deem illegitimate.

Ukrainian officials had not commented at the time of reporting. The incident comes amid Russia's preparations for State Duma elections scheduled for Sept. 18-20, which Russian-installed authorities intend to conduct in occupied Ukrainian territories. On the same day, Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada passed a resolution urging foreign parliaments and international organisations to denounce Russia's election plans in the occupied regions. Holding elections in these areas is considered a breach of international law.