Voting got underway on Friday in a three-day parliamentary election in Russia that President Vladimir Putin has framed as a barometer of support for the war in Ukraine.
It is the first State Duma election since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. The ballot will decide the make-up of the 450-seat lower house and is widely expected to leave the ruling United Russia party dominant in a tightly controlled political system. Most anti-war candidates have been kept off the ballot after the liberal Yabloko party, which wants a ceasefire, was ruled to have breached electoral rules, though some of its candidates are still running in individual constituencies.
In a televised address ahead of the vote, Putin said casting a ballot would help secure Russia's victory in Ukraine and show national resolve under external pressure. Polling is taking place amid signs of war weariness, economic strain, fuel shortages linked to Ukrainian drone strikes, and the impact of Western sanctions. Partial results are expected from Sunday evening GMT, with near-complete figures due on Monday.
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