MOSCOW, Russia: Supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his war in Ukraine are poised to win gubernatorial races across Russia, according to early vote counts on Sunday.
This includes the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have recently seized control of some towns. Russia’s three-day local and regional elections concluded on Sunday evening, with Kremlin-backed candidates expected to secure victories in all 21 gubernatorial races, 13 regional legislative assemblies, and numerous city councils.
These elections are being interpreted as a sign of continued public support for Putin and his military actions in Ukraine, now in its third year. Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and current chairman of the ruling United Russia party, emphasized the need to maintain citizens’ trust amid the ongoing conflict.
In the border region of Kursk, acting Governor Alexei Smirnov is leading with nearly 66% of the vote, while in the drone-attack-prone Lipetsk region, United Russia candidate Igor Artamonov has secured around 80% of the votes. Former Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin is also leading the by-election in the Bryansk region, another area affected by Ukrainian air attacks.
