Ukraine to sanction participants in Russian vote in separatist-held area

FILE PHOTO: Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Kyiv, Ukraine April 7, 2021. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine will impose sanctions against dozens of organisers and participants in Russian parliamentary elections taking place in occupied territories in eastern Ukraine and Crimea, a top Ukrainian security official said on Friday.

Russia is holding the elections on Sept. 17-19 and for the first time, United Russia, the ruling party that supports President Vladimir Putin, is campaigning in eastern Ukraine on territory controlled by Moscow-backed separatists.