{
  "id": 8015684,
  "title": "Ukrainian collaborator involved in Russia's sham 'referendums' killed in Ukrainian drone strike, Russian media claims",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/ukrainian-collaborator-involved-in-russias-sham-referendums-killed-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T11:40:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Kyiv Independent",
    "slug": "kyiv-independent",
    "url": "https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-collaborator-involved-in-russias-sham-referendums-killed-in-ukrainian-drone-strike-russian-media-claims/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Russian state-controlled media outlet TASS reported on September 17 that Ukrainian collaborator Elena Astanina, who headed one of Russia's election commissions in the occupied territories, was killed in a Ukrainian drone strike. Astanina, the chairperson of Precinct Electoral Commission No. 394 in the Russian-occupied city of Tokmak, had been involved in organizing Russia's sham referendums in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts since 2022. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims, and Ukraine has not commented on the reported strike. The incident comes as Russia prepares for elections to the Russian State Duma scheduled for September 18-20, with Russian-installed authorities planning to hold the vote in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia. Ukraine's parliament had previously condemned Russia's plans to hold State Duma elections in the occupied territories.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Voice of Ukraine",
        "title": "Russian forces strike one of Ukraine’s largest steel plants for the fourth time – photo",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/russian-forces-strike-one-of-ukraines-largest-steel-plants-for-the",
        "published": "2026-09-17T10:37:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ukrinform - Economy",
        "title": "Zelensky: Ukraine wants to sign drone deal with Japan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/zelensky-ukraine-wants-to-sign-drone-deal-with-japan",
        "published": "2026-09-17T11:25:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euromaidan Press",
        "title": "Ukraine kept this strike drone secret for two years—its maker says it has destroyed more than 350 Russian systems",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/ukraine-kept-this-strike-drone-secret-for-two-years-its-maker-says-it",
        "published": "2026-09-17T12:50:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Russian forces strike major Ukrainian steel plant for 4th time in a month, injuring 1 worker",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/russian-forces-strike-major-ukrainian-steel-plant-for-4th-time-in-a",
        "published": "2026-09-17T14:27:29.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}