Russia Holds Legislative Elections in Occupied Ukrainian Territories; Kyiv Rejects

Russia is conducting its first parliamentary elections since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, including in illegally annexed Ukrainian territories, a move intended to consolidate administrative control and legitimize the conflict. Concurrently, Ukraine has launched a large-scale drone attack on Moscow and other Russian regions, with claims of up to 350 drones, marking a significant escalation in long-range strikes during a sensitive political period. The elections are widely seen as predetermined to reinforce Kremlin control, while the drone attacks aim to disrupt the process and challenge Russia's narrative of stability.