MOSCOW: Russia has claimed that the United Russia party has clinched local elections in four Ukrainian regions controlled by Moscow, Western media reported on Sunday.
The elections have been rejected by Ukraine and its allies in an area the Kremlin annexed last year.
According to a data released by Moscow show voters in the conflict hit territories supported United Russia with more than 70 percent of the vote in each territory.
Poll Being held Across Russia ahead of Presidential Elections
The poll is also being held across Russia before presidential elections next year likely to extend Putin’s rule until at least 2030.
Opponents of Putin are in exile or jail as Moscow declared criticism of its conflict in Ukraine a criminal offense.
Authorities set up mobile polling facility before vote in the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia while Moscow has accused Ukraine of attacking a polling booth by drone.
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In Donetsk, Kremlin backed authorities have said Ukrainian shelling has wounded election officials. Voting is also taking place in Russian annexed Crimea.
Voting is taking place with extra security measures in regions bordering Ukraine.
Electoral commission chief Ella Pamfilova has said voting is postponed in Shebekino, district that was targeted by shelling.
Ukrainian security services have prepared a list of “collaborators” helping to organize the voting and vowed strong reaction.
