![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BKX4E44IVFUDLR74UNCUSJ5ZBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=bc12026a046ac7bb28bf4ba00bd8da3568169e21c8c8b646e0c5d5a907394e37&width=400&height=225)
Women vote at a polling station in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region of Ukraine. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OEHQTO56FEWCJWFCZ345F7Q4PI.jpg?smart=true&auth=de1ea543a3003f7aafe09440d42166bcf64493df55386c94e320fedd97b75783&width=400&height=225)
A service member casts her ballot in Russia's presidential election in Moscow on March 15, 2024. (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA / AFP)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MAT7BUO7J22KPFDNBYZVBW5FEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=de01c69290709624d36fb8c38cb06a7bbe546ef5b64d2b03cbe39387ce4406d2&width=400&height=225)
A huge screen shows live feeds from polling stations across Russia at the country's Central Electoral Commission headquarters in Moscow. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/67R5S3DK2SMY35PFG6QLLQFZMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf915d586c549999a84c17a0edb5c79f1564f106f16342b13d211abc81c13eef&width=400&height=225)
A poster shows the candidates in Russia's presidential elections at a polling station in Moscow. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SI2DBYY42WWRXP76H27UGE5MCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=7fa05a647d7ebd488b0277c01bded5c007c3cf134b1ab2419f0043e640ecac29&width=400&height=225)
A woman fills in a ballot paper at a polling station in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U2574TO2U2QEOU366UXHJXSNHQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=c63fc8060559ee2853e7dc2ada0aec49940ac07c2167bca7a9edbb28a21e26f6&width=400&height=225)
Russian service personnel enter a polling station in St Petersburg, Russia. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MOCBPSS3OYEOURV562J54DUTFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f3d848c0f1bef907df68806af2dc0c00277da7893d93dfe910cb8ba5ad84354c&width=400&height=225)
Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and army chief of staff Valery Gerasimov vote. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ULXFUNNFDBM7ULREDNZ2SNVJZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e72a157e265c564a33007934609e6ffc388418c421792853b274212513a9be54&width=400&height=225)
Service members register to vote in Russia's presidential election in Moscow on March 15, 2024. (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA / AFP)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BKX4E44IVFUDLR74UNCUSJ5ZBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=bc12026a046ac7bb28bf4ba00bd8da3568169e21c8c8b646e0c5d5a907394e37&width=400&height=225)
Women vote at a polling station in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region of Ukraine. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OEHQTO56FEWCJWFCZ345F7Q4PI.jpg?smart=true&auth=de1ea543a3003f7aafe09440d42166bcf64493df55386c94e320fedd97b75783&width=400&height=225)
A service member casts her ballot in Russia's presidential election in Moscow on March 15, 2024. (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA / AFP)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MAT7BUO7J22KPFDNBYZVBW5FEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=de01c69290709624d36fb8c38cb06a7bbe546ef5b64d2b03cbe39387ce4406d2&width=400&height=225)
A huge screen shows live feeds from polling stations across Russia at the country's Central Electoral Commission headquarters in Moscow. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/67R5S3DK2SMY35PFG6QLLQFZMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf915d586c549999a84c17a0edb5c79f1564f106f16342b13d211abc81c13eef&width=400&height=225)
A poster shows the candidates in Russia's presidential elections at a polling station in Moscow. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SI2DBYY42WWRXP76H27UGE5MCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=7fa05a647d7ebd488b0277c01bded5c007c3cf134b1ab2419f0043e640ecac29&width=400&height=225)
A woman fills in a ballot paper at a polling station in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U2574TO2U2QEOU366UXHJXSNHQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=c63fc8060559ee2853e7dc2ada0aec49940ac07c2167bca7a9edbb28a21e26f6&width=400&height=225)
Russian service personnel enter a polling station in St Petersburg, Russia. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MOCBPSS3OYEOURV562J54DUTFE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f3d848c0f1bef907df68806af2dc0c00277da7893d93dfe910cb8ba5ad84354c&width=400&height=225)
Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and army chief of staff Valery Gerasimov vote. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ULXFUNNFDBM7ULREDNZ2SNVJZI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e72a157e265c564a33007934609e6ffc388418c421792853b274212513a9be54&width=400&height=225)
Service members register to vote in Russia's presidential election in Moscow on March 15, 2024. (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA / AFP)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BKX4E44IVFUDLR74UNCUSJ5ZBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=bc12026a046ac7bb28bf4ba00bd8da3568169e21c8c8b646e0c5d5a907394e37&width=400&height=225)
Women vote at a polling station in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region of Ukraine. AP
Russia election 2024: Polls open in vote all but certain to extend Vladimir Putin's rule
Voting takes place just weeks after the death of his fiercest critic, opposition leader Alexei Navalny
![Gillian Duncan](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F736ebb26-e270-44c5-96a2-80452d783888.png?smart=true&auth=6b2c4dc0614f332daaa4e848c41f090496fd16da3ccccaa940132372e6a74710&width=70&height=70)
Gillian Duncan
15 March, 2024
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic