In Russia, the counting of votes for unified local elections has been held, and the dominance of the ruling party is reported in various places.
Elections are also being enforced in four eastern and southern Ukrainian provinces that Russia unilaterally declared annexation last year, and Putin's government is expected to further make control of the occupied territories a fait accompli.
In Russia, elections for the mayor of the capital Moscow and the governors of 20 regions are held all at once, and counting of votes is underway after voting closes on the 10th.
State media reported that one of Putin's aides, Moscow Mayor Sobyanin, was assured of victory, as well as the dominance of candidates from the ruling United Russia party in most regions.
On the other hand, elections were also enforced in four provinces in eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts in eastern Ukraine, and Zaporozhye and Kherson Oblast in the south, where Russia unilaterally declared annexation in September last year.
As the vote counting process continues, Russia's Central Election Commission has announced that the ruling party United Russia has so far received more than 1% to 9% of the vote in each of the four provinces.
Ukraine is fiercely opposed to the elections in four states, and US Secretary of State Blinken has denounced the election as a "fake election," but the Putin administration insists that the election result is fair and is expected to further make control of the occupied territories a fait accompli.