Russian President Vladimir Putin swept through the country’s election over the weekend to secure a fifth term in power, claiming 87.97% of the vote in a contest with no real opposition.
Western leaders condemned the poll as “illegitimate” and neither free nor fair, while Putin hailed the result and turnout as proof of his country’s democracy. Anti-Putin protesters staged demonstrations in cities around the country to express their rejection of the longtime Russian leader, who now has another six years in power.
Ukraine’s Air Force said it downed 17 out of 22 Iranian-made Shahed attack drones sent from Russia over a number of Ukrainian cities overnight. It reported that six people were injured and warned of further danger from ballistic missiles in the northeastern region of Kharkiv.