Live: Russian election enters final day in shadow of war in Ukraine

At least two people killed in mass drone barrage on Moscow

Hundreds of drones targeting Moscow and its surrounding region killed at least two people and damaged a major refinery on the final day of the country’s parliamentary elections, the authorities said. 

The capital’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that more than 1,600 drones had been intercepted and shot down, 450 of which were aimed at Moscow.

He accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere with a tightly controlled three-day election that is set to tighten President Vladimir Putin’s 26-year grip on power.

«The unprecedented attack was clearly planned with the aim of disrupting the elections. The enemy did not succeed,» he said on Telegram.

Facility at Moscow oil refinery damaged in drone attack, TASS reports

⁠A ⁠facility ​on ​the premises of the Moscow ​oil ‌refinery ⁠was ‌damaged as a ⁠result of a drone ​attack ‌on the Russian capital, ‌state news ​agency TASS reported on Sunday, citing ​Moscow’s mayor.

No ​casualties ​were reported, ​the report said.

Russian election, cast as test of support for Ukraine war, enters final day

A ​parliamentary election that President Vladimir Putin has cast as a test of support for Russia’s war in Ukraine entered its third and final day on Sunday, with the ruling United Russia party expected to retain its dominance in a political system critics say does not tolerate dissent.

The State Duma ​vote, the first ‌since Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022, is likely to be presented by the ⁠Kremlin as evidence of public backing for Putin’s policies and for the war, Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two, now in its fifth year with no sign of ending soon.