By 7:35 a.m. (Moscow time), turnout stood at 45%, and all polling stations opened this Sunday—including the 1,443 in the capital, a region targeted by a massive Ukrainian drone attack intended to disrupt the elections, the CEC noted.

As in previous instances, voting for Russia’s parliamentary elections is taking place over three days: from September 18 to 20.

The elections will determine the 450 deputies of the State Duma (the lower house of parliament) for the ninth convocation.

Gubernatorial elections are also being held in at least eight regions during this same period.

In total, more than 2,200 electoral contests at various levels are taking place to fill approximately 20,700 seats for deputies and other elected offices.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described these elections as the most important event in domestic politics.

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