The Kremlin has pre-determined the results of sham elections across sovereign Ukrainian territory: UK statement at the Security Council
Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

President,
Let me first condemn another appalling Russian missile attack earlier this week on a market in Kostyantynivka in eastern Ukraine. Intentionally directing attacks against civilians is a war crime, and those responsible must be held to account.
Last year, in violation of the democratic will of the Ukrainian people, and of the UN Charter, Russia attempted to illegally annex Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. We saw Russian soldiers round people up to cast ballots at gunpoint for Russia鈥檚 so-called 鈥渞eferendums.鈥�
As colleagues have said, the General Assembly emphatically rejected Russia鈥檚 actions. 143 Member States denounced Russia鈥檚 blatant violation of international law. The Secretary General condemned Russia鈥檚 attempted annexations.
Now Russia is committing another violation of the UN Charter by holding so-called 鈥渆lections鈥� within these four oblasts and in illegally annexed Crimea. Russia claims it is protecting the right to self-determination. But as my Foreign Secretary has said, you can鈥檛 hold elections in someone else鈥檚 country. Not only are Russia鈥檚 actions illegal and illegitimate, but we have information that the Kremlin has pre-determined the results of the sham elections across sovereign Ukrainian territory which Russia temporarily controls.
This gross deception will bring Russia no closer to justifying its war of aggression, just as Russia, in a year, has come no closer to expanding its control over the areas it has claimed in its failing invasion.
We also have information that 鈥渢his year, Russia aims to host around 100,000 Ukrainian children from Russian-controlled territories to participate in a summer camp programme, with the aim being to politically indoctrinate children to align with Russia.鈥�
Ukraine is fighting for its future as a State. The only way that Russia鈥檚 war can come to an end is through a just and sustained peace that fully respects Ukraine鈥檚 territorial integrity and sovereignty. We call on the international community to support Ukraine until that peace is won.