The Ukrainian government has advised its citizens residing in Russian-occupied areas to reject what they denounce as Moscow's "pseudo-elections," expected to confirm Vladimir Putin's presidency for another six years. For Kyiv and its allies, this voting process is viewed as another attempt by Russia to legitimize its control over Ukrainian territories it holds.

"Ukrainian citizens are urged to abstain from participating in this charade in any form," stated government minister Iryna Vereshchuk. The government emphasized that citizens should refrain from involvement in organizing the elections, campaigning, voting, or acting as observers, according to a government statement.

Vereshchuk emphasized, "Do not collaborate, do not aid the occupiers in conducting fraudulent elections." She cautioned that individuals who willingly participated were violating Ukrainian law, although coerced involvement was not illegal.

While in-person voting commenced on Friday, Sunday is anticipated to witness the highest number of polling stations opening in Crimea, as well as in parts of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions under Russian control.

Demonstrating the significance Moscow places on appearances, the Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti published a report on its Telegram channel on Saturday, purportedly showcasing a mobile election team setting up in Avdiivka, a town seized by Russian forces last month, marking a crucial territorial gain.