Polls have closed in Russia's first parliamentary elections held since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, with the ruling United Russia party widely expected to secure a dominant victory in the tightly controlled vote.

The Kremlin has framed the elections as a crucial test of public support for its ongoing military campaign in Ukraine and an effort to legitimize its actions on the international stage. The vote, which commenced on Friday and concluded on Sunday, involved over 111 million eligible voters across Russia.

Russian officials reported that Ukraine launched hundreds of drones targeting Moscow and other regions, an action Kyiv claimed was an attempt to disrupt the voting process. State news agency TASS reported this as the most extensive drone assault of its kind since the conflict started. The attacks resulted in at least three fatalities in the Moscow region and two more in the Russian-occupied Kherson region of Ukraine, including an election official, according to regional authorities.

Despite the reported drone strikes and alleged attacks on electronic voting systems, Russian authorities stated that the electoral process proceeded largely smoothly. Initial results indicated United Russia holding a significant lead, with the Central Election Commission reporting a national turnout of 56.66 percent by the close of polls. Official results and final turnout figures are anticipated on Monday morning.

The elections included residents from four Ukrainian regions that Russia illegally annexed following the 2022 invasion, areas that Moscow does not fully control. Voting also took place in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. Ukrainian authorities condemned the voting in occupied territories as illegal, urging the international community not to recognize the outcomes. The European Union characterized the move as a "blatant violation of international law."

Eligible voters cast two separate ballots. Half of the State Duma's 450 seats were contested through party-list voting, while the remaining seats were decided in single-seat constituencies based on individual candidate choices. The dominant United Russia party is heavily favored to maintain its substantial majority in the lower house of parliament.

Several smaller parties, often referred to as the "systemic opposition," which generally align with President Vladimir Putin's policies on key issues, are also expected to retain their parliamentary presence. A significant state-led media campaign and stringent control over the political landscape have contributed to the predictable outcome of these elections.

Questions remain regarding the extent of international recognition for the results, particularly concerning the votes cast in illegally annexed Ukrainian territories. The perceived legitimacy of the election, both domestically and internationally, will likely be a subject of ongoing scrutiny in light of the ongoing conflict and the circumstances under which the vote was conducted.