Three years after Moscow launched its full-scale military incursion into Ukraine, Russia has commenced voting for its national parliamentary elections, a contest that is being held under tight oversight from the Kremlin. This three-day voting process, which began on Friday, marks the first national legislative election held by Russia since it expanded its military operation into neighboring Ukraine in early 2022. International observers and critics have long raised questions about the fairness and transparency of Russian elections under current leadership, with this cycle drawing additional scrutiny due to the shifting geopolitical landscape following the ongoing conflict. The outcome of the election is widely expected to reinforce the current political order, consolidating the Kremlin’s control over the country’s legislative body amid continued international isolation and sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict. As voting proceeds across the country’s 11 time zones, opposition voices have been largely sidelined, with most independent and anti-war candidates barred from appearing on ballots. This constrained electoral landscape has reinforced assessments from global analysts that the election will deliver a legislature firmly aligned with the Kremlin’s policy agenda, including its ongoing military commitment in Ukraine.