Vladimir Putin declares victory in Russia’s presidential election

• Vladimir Putin declares victory.
• Ukraine uses drones to attack Russia.
• International criticism pours in.

President Vladimir Putin secures his fifth term with 87.97% of the votes in, according to preliminary results announced by Russian electoral authorities.

The election took place amidst significant political repression, reminiscent of the Soviet era.

Furthermore, it has been widely criticized for the lack of genuine competition and the suppression of opposition.

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Vladimir Putin declares victory in Russia

Putin’s victory comes amidst an intensification of repression against political opposition and dissenting voices in Russia.

With the shadow of the Ukraine invasion still looming over Russia’s foreign policy, the opposition was virtually nonexistent in the presidential election.

Only three symbolic candidates, none of whom openly opposed Putin’s policies, were allowed to run.

The Central Electoral Commission of Russia reported that, with 24.4% of precincts counted, Putin amassed nearly 88% of the votes, solidifying his dominant position.

A presidential election amid drone attacks

On Sunday, as Russian citizens headed to the polls to participate in the presidential election that would likely secure another six years in power for Vladimir Putin, Ukraine launched a new series of attacks.

The drone attacks were carried out in several regions of the country, according to The Associated Press.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that they shot down 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, with four of them intercepted in the Moscow region.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that another drone was shot down near the capital’s Domodedovo airport on Sunday morning, with no damages or casualties reported.

Ukrainian drones were intercepted by Russia

In addition to these incidents, the Ministry of Defense noted that two more drones were shot down over the Kaluga region.

Likewise, another four were reported in the Yaroslavl region, northeast of the Russian capital.

Furthermore, it was reported that more Ukrainian drones were intercepted over the border regions of Belgorod, Kursk, and Rostov.

In Belgorod, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov lamented the death of a 16-year-old girl and the injury of her father as a result of the Ukrainian bombings on Sunday.

More deaths and injuries

Another man lost his life, and 11 people were injured in a second attack, according to The Associated Press.

In Krasnodar, a drone struck a refinery, causing a fire that firefighters managed to extinguish after several hours.

Authorities said that a refinery employee died due to a heart attack.

Refineries and oil storage facilities have been common targets of Ukrainian drones.

Vladimir Putin speaks out

Putin described the attacks as an attempt by Ukraine to intimidate the public and affect the Russian presidential elections.

«These enemy strikes shall not remain unpunished,» Putin promised during Friday’s meeting of his Security Council.

«I am sure that our people, the people of Russia, will respond to this with even greater solidarity,» he added.

Two Russian missiles struck the city of Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine on Sunday, leaving five people injured, said the governor of the region, Vitaliy Kim, on Telegram.