Key facts
- Russians began voting in a parliamentary election.
- The election is taking place amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
- The ruling United Russia party is expected to win a majority.
Russians began voting on Friday in a parliamentary election that is taking place against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The vote is widely expected to ensure a comfortable majority for President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party, further consolidating his power. The election is being held over multiple days, with voting concluding on Sunday, a measure introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic that critics argue increases the potential for fraud.