Russia begins voting in first parliamentary election since Ukraine invasion

• Russians have begun voting in a three-day parliamentary election, the first since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
• President Vladimir Putin urged voters to demonstrate support for Russian soldiers, as the ruling United Russia party looks set to retain control of the State Duma .
• Dissent has been effectively suppressed after Russia's Supreme Court removed the anti-war Yabloko party from the main ballot and other critics were jailed or exiled.
• Voting is taking place in Crimea and four illegally annexed Ukrainian regions, despite ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks causing fuel shortages and economic strain.
• Authorities in Kyiv have denounced the vote in Russian-occupied territories as illegal and urged international organisations not to recognise the results.