Drone strikes disrupt voting in southern Russia and occupied Ukraine

Russia is conducting its first parliamentary elections since the 2022 invasion, including in illegally annexed Ukrainian territories, a move intended to consolidate administrative control and legitimize its occupation. Concurrently, Ukraine has launched a large-scale drone attack on Moscow and other Russian regions, with claims of up to 350 drones, signaling an escalation in long-range strikes aimed at disrupting the electoral process and challenging the Kremlin's narrative of control. The outcome of the elections is widely expected to favor the ruling party, reinforcing Kremlin dominance amidst the ongoing conflict.