Russia Commences Voting Amid Heightened Ukraine Border Attacks

_{Photo: AFP}

Moscow, Russia: Russia commenced voting on Friday in an election expected to extend President Vladimir Putin's tenure by six years. Concurrently, Kyiv condemned the vote as a "farce" and intensified attacks on border regions.

Officials in Moscow cautioned against protests during the March 15-17 presidential vote, following opposition calls for anti-Putin demonstrations on Sunday.

The Kremlin asserts that the vote will demonstrate the nation's full support for its actions in Ukraine, with polling stations established in Russian-held territories. In the lead-up to the election, Kyiv escalated aerial bombardments of Russian border areas. The Russian National Guard reported engagements with pro-Ukrainian militias in Kursk, the latest in a series of border clashes. Ahead of the vote, Putin addressed Russians, emphasizing unity amid challenges. Polling stations opened in Russia's easternmost Kamchatka peninsula on Friday and will close in Kaliningrad on Sunday. Putin's critics, including Alexei Navalny, have been silenced, and few genuine competitors were allowed to participate. Navalny's widow called for rallies on Sunday, the final day of voting. Kyiv launched significant aerial attacks this week, with casualties reported in Russian border regions. Pro-Ukrainian paramilitaries claimed increased attacks and incursions in Russian territories. Election victory will extend Putin's rule until at least 2030. Early voting began in occupied Ukrainian territories, including Crimea. The US condemned the voting in Russian-held areas.In Mariupol, election officials set up polling stations, but Ukraine urged against labeling the event as legitimate elections.

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