Voting began in Russia on Friday in a three-day parliamentary election that President Vladimir Putin has described as a test of public support for the war in Ukraine.
The election is the first parliamentary vote since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It will determine the composition of the 450-seat State Duma, the lower house of parliament.
The ruling United Russia party is widely expected to retain its dominance in a tightly controlled political system.
Most anti-war candidates have been excluded from the ballot after the Supreme Court ruled that the liberal Yabloko party, which supports a ceasefire, had breached electoral rules. Some Yabloko candidates, however, are still contesting individual constituencies.
In a televised address ahead of the election, Putin urged Russians to vote, saying their participation would help secure victory in Ukraine and demonstrate national resolve in the face of external pressure.
The Kremlin has said national unity is essential in response to what it describes as increasingly dangerous efforts by Ukraine’s intelligence services and other adversaries to foment unrest inside Russia.
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The election is taking place amid growing public anxiety over the impact of the war, while Russia’s economy is also under pressure. Fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian drone strikes have affected some parts of the country, while businesses face high interest rates, labour shortages and Western sanctions.
The authorities are expected to use the election to gauge the extent of war fatigue among the population.
Initial partial results are expected from 1800 GMT on Sunday, with near-complete results due on Monday.
