Voters across Russia’s 11 time zones headed on Friday to the polls to pick the country’s next president, with incumbent Vladimir Putin being all but certain to secure his fifth term, according to media reports.
Putin on Thursday had urged Russians to back him in the face of a “difficult period” for the country, in a pre-election message broadcast on state TV.
“We have already shown that we can be together, defending the freedom, sovereignty and security of Russia … Today it is critically important not to stray from this path,” he said.
The Kremlin leader’s confidence is riding high with his troops recently having secured their first territorial gains in Ukraine in nearly a year.
Voting has also been held in the parts of Ukrainian regions that Russian forces have seized and occupied.
For the first time, the election will take place over three days and polls close at 8pm local time on Sunday.
Officials said that voting proceeded in an orderly fashion, but at least eight people were arrested for acts of vandalism at polling stations.
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