{
  "id": 9960486,
  "title": "Zelenskyy imposes sanctions on 44 individuals involved in holding illegal ‘elections’ in Ukraine’s TOT",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/zelenskyy-imposes-sanctions-on-44-individuals-involved-in-holding",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-26T10:38:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Interfax-Ukraine",
    "slug": "interfax-ukraine",
    "url": "https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1210345.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has authorized sanctions against 44 individuals implicated in organizing unlawful elections in Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories, the President’s Office announced. The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine decreed the sanctions, targeting those who are aiding Russia’s strategic interests and aiding in the occupation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhia regions, Crimea, and Sevastopol. Several of the sanctioned individuals are alleged to have been elected to positions in these so-called local councils, which were established illegally during the occupation. Among the sanctioned figures is Irina Kuksenkova, a propagandist and supporter of the invaders, and former Ukrainian lawmaker Iurii Onishchuk, who allegedly joined the Russians following the seizure of Melitopol. Ukraine firmly asserts that these \"elections\" are unlawful and their outcomes, along with any associated documents, lack any legal standing. These actions are viewed as a clear breach of international law and its core tenets.",
  "summary": "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree imposing sanctions on 44 individuals involved in holding illegal \"elections\" in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine (TOIT), the President's Office’s press service reported.",
  "key_points": [
    "Zelenskyy authorizes sanctions on 44 individuals for illegal elections.",
    "Sanctions target those aiding Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian regions.",
    "Irina Kuksenkova and Iurii Onishchuk among sanctioned figures."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ukrinform - Politics",
        "title": "Zelensky imposes sanctions on 44 participants in illegal “elections” in TOT",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/zelensky-imposes-sanctions-on-44-participants-in-illegal-elections-in",
        "published": "2026-09-26T10:27:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}