Russia's parliamentary election entered its final day on Sunday, according to The Moscow Times, which reported that the vote has been presented as a test of public support for the war in Ukraine. Polling stations were due to close with what CNN described as a near-certain outcome.
The Guardian reported that Kyiv denounced Russia's decision to include annexed regions in the parliamentary elections. The New York Times examined why candidates with almost no prospect of winning were nonetheless standing in the contest.
The Moscow Times framed the election as a gauge of backing for the conflict, while CNN said the result was all but predetermined. The i Paper characterized the vote as an attempt by President Vladimir Putin to entrench his power that it argued would rebound against him.
Taken together, the coverage points to an election whose result is not in doubt but whose political meaning is being contested from several directions — by Kyiv over the participation of annexed territories, and by commentators who see the ballot as a measure of support for the war rather than a genuine contest.
What to watch next: official results and turnout figures, and how Kyiv and Western governments respond to voting held in the annexed regions.