EU reacts to Russia's local elections in occupied Crimea

The European Union has condemned the holding of local elections by the Russian Federation in occupied Crimea and Sevastopol. 

Peter Stano, Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy at the EU, said that the EU strongly condemns Russia's so-called "elections" in the occupied Crimea and Sevastopol held on 6-8 September. 

"The EU does not recognise these so-called "elections" or their results in Crimea. They are null and void, and cannot produce any legal effects whatsoever. Russia’s leadership and those responsible for organising these illegal actions will be held accountable and face consequences. More than a decade after Russia’s invasion and attempted illegal annexation of Crimea, the EU reiterates its position: Crimea is Ukraine..." Peter Stano said.

"There is one clear way out of this war: that Russia immediately ends its illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine, and withdraws all forces and military equipment from Ukraine’s territory within its internationally recognised borders."

8 September was an election day in Russia, when voters elected members of local authorities across the Russian Federation. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry stressed that the results of the so-called "elections" are null and void, and the "elections" themselves are illegitimate.

It has been unofficially reported that the EU may remove Nikita Mazepin, former F1 driver and Violetta Prigozhina, the mother of Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner Group PMC, from the sanctions list.