STORY: Residents of Donetsk region in Russian-controlled Ukraine began casting their votes on Friday (September 18) in Russia's three-day parliamentary election.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the election will show that millions of people back his army fighting in Ukraine, even though most anti-war candidates were not allowed to run.

The State Duma election, the first since Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022, is widely expected to see the ruling pro-Putin United Russia party retain its dominance in Russia's tightly controlled political system.

Most anti-war candidates were excluded from the ballot before voting across Russia's 11 time zones got underway, after the Supreme Court ruled last month that the liberal Yabloko party — which wants a ceasefire in Ukraine — had breached electoral rules, something it denied.

Donetsk is one of four regions of Ukraine that Russia partly occupies and claimed as its own in 2022 in a move condemned as illegal by most countries at the United Nations General Assembly.

Ukraine rejected that move as an illegal land grab.

Kyiv says holding elections in any of the four territories is illegal and that the results will therefore be null and void.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Donetsk residents cast their votes in Russian parliamentary election

VIDEO SHOWS: VOTERS IN RUSSIAN CONTROLLED DONETSK REGION OF UKRAINE VOTING IN RUSSIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION / COMMENTS FROM VOTERS AND ELECTION COMMISSIONER ALBINA AFENCHENKO

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT.

SHOWS: DONETSK, RUSSIAN-CONTROLLED UKRAINE (SEPTEMBER 18, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VOTERS PASSING THROUGH SECURITY AT ENTRANCE TO POLLING STATION

2. MAN ARMED WITH GUN STANDING BENEATH PHOTO OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN

3. VARIOUS OF VOTERS REGISTERING IN POLLING STATION

4. MAN EXITING VOTING BOOTH

5. MAN PUTTING VOTE IN BALLOT BOX

6. VOTES INSIDE BOX

7. DONETSK RESIDENT ANNA PUTTING VOTE IN BOX

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) DONETSK RESIDENT, ANNA, NO LAST NAME GIVEN, SAYING:

"For me, elections are about ensuring that everything is good in our republic, in our country. We really love our President (Russian President Vladimir Putin), and we'll follow him wherever. So, we are in favour of uniting all of us and ensuring that our Russia is always thriving."

9. VARIOUS OF MAN REGISTERING

10. MAN WALKING INTO VOTING BOOTH

11. MAN PUTTING VOTE INTO BOX

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) DONETSK RESIDENT, ELENA, NO LAST NAME GIVEN, ON WHAT VOTING MEANS FOR HER, SAYING:

"The hope that life in our region will improve, that people will stop leaving, that more children will go to school. A safe city."

13. WOMAN REGISTERING

14. RUSSIAN PASSPORT ON REGISTRATION TABLE

15. PEOPLE STANDING IN VOTING BOOTHS BEHIND PRIVACY CURTAINS

16. DONETSK RESIDENT VITALIY PUTTING VOTE IN BOX

17. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) DONETSK RESIDENT, VITALIY, NO LAST NAME GIVEN, ON WHAT VOTING MEANS FOR HIM, SAYING:

"Well, to improve life, and for peace. What else? (REPORTER ASKING IF HE BELIEVES NEGOTIATIONS CAN WORK BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE) "I believe it. Negotiations should happen."

18. PEOPLE INSIDE POLLING STATION

19. ELECTION OFFICIALS ON TELEVISION SCREEN

20. HEAD OF ELECTION COMMISSION, ALBINA AFENCHENKO, SPEAKING INSIDE POLLING STATION

21. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) HEAD OF ELECTION COMMISSION, ALBINA AFENCHENKO, SAYING:

"Today marks a significant event for the Donetsk People's Republic - it's the first time that we are taking part in the State Duma elections, and the representatives who will be elected will represent the interests of the Donetsk Republic in State Duma. A large number of people have already submitted their proposals for the people's programme. Everyone is confident that the voice of Donbas residents will be heard, all our problems, all our wishes, together, with our candidates who will pass and implement them."

22. VARIOUS OF AFENCHENKO AND OTHERS SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM AND SONG ABOUT DONETSK