WorldUkrainian collaborator involved in Russia’s sham ‘referendums’ killed in drone strike, Russian media claims

Russian state-controlled outlet TASS claimed that Elena Astanina, who headed a Russian-installed electoral commission in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast and helped organize Moscow’s sham referendums, was killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on Sept. 15. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the report, and Ukraine had not commented.

UkraineRussiadrone strikeoccupied territories

TThe Kyiv Independent★★★☆☆2026-09-17 11:40Original