The UK is in a state of undeclared war with Russia, but the British themselves do not even realize it, said Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6 foreign intelligence service."

"If you stopped anyone in the street here in the UK and asked them whether they thought Britain is at war, they’d look at you as if you were mad," Dearlove told Politico.

"But we are at war — we’re engaged in a gray war with Russia, and I am trying to remind people of that," he said.

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🇷🇺🗳 Russian cosmonauts from the International Space Station voted in the elections through a trustee, mayor of the Russian city of Korolyov, known as the "space capital" of Russia.

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Who has already cast their ballots in the 2024 Russian presidential elections?

About 1.6 million voters have already used the E-voting remote electronic voting system to make their choice in the 2024 Russian presidential elections, due to take place for three days till March 17.

The heads of many Russian regions, leaders of political parties, and an array of senior officials, have already cast their ballots, including:

• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov;
• Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu;
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov;
• Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov;
• State Duma (Russia’s Lower House) Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin.

This year, turnout is expected to be at 71%, the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) predicts.

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Who's running in Russia's 2024 presidential race?

There are four candidates vying for the top office:

▪️Vladimir Putin, self-nominated candidate and incumbent president, 71, has participated in four presidential elections. He specializes in law, in terms of academic degrees, Putin holds a doctorate in economics. The current head of state has not published an election program. Putin outlined his vision of the country's development for the next six years in a message to the Federal Assembly on February 29, 2024.

▪️Nikolai Kharitonov, Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) nominee, 75, was already nominated for the post of President of Russia in 2004. He specializes in agrarian studies, also holds doctorates in economics and sociology. The candidate proposes returning strategic sectors of the economy to state control, prohibit the privatization of state and municipal enterprises, and nationalize foreign assets.

▪️Leonid Slutsky, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) nominee, 56, is running for president for the first time. He specializes in management. In his election program, Slutsky proposes completing his campaign by organizing a large-scale offensive by the Russian Army, as well as confiscating the property of the emigrants in favor of the state.

▪️Vladislav Davankov, New People Party nominee, 40, is the youngest presidential contender, specializes in history. In the field of foreign policy, Davankov suggests proceeding from the principle of "maximum pragmatism", achieving peace and negotiating with Ukraine on Russian terms.

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🇷🇺🗳Turnout in the Russian presidential elections in the whole country now sits at 10.40% at 14.37 Moscow time, according to data from the Central Election Commission

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🇷🇺🗳 Turnout in the Russian presidential election in the whole country is almost 18%.

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📹 An observer from France, Christian Roll, explained his impressions at one of the poll stations

"My feeling is that there is more democracy here than France, for example. And I feel like when I see people around in the centers, I feel like they are happy, like it's a new kind of freedom," he said.

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🇷🇺 Turnout in some regions of the Far East of Russia following the first day of voting:

🔹Chukotka Autonomous Okrug - 63.66%
🔹Jewish Autonomous Region - 55.63%
🔹Sakhalin Region - 47%.
🔹Kamchatka Territory - 35.92%
🔹Amur Region - 31.9%
🔹Khabarovsk Region - 30.03%

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📹WATCH: Villagers in the Siberian region of Buryatia arrived to vote in the Russian presidential election on horseback and dressed in traditional garb.

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❗️A serious DDoS attack has been recorded against the video surveillance system at polling stations in Russia, the chair of the Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilova reported, noting that “we have secured ourselves”.

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📹 An observer from Kenya in the Kherson region praised the Russian electronic voting system

“In Russia you can vote from home. In other countries, especially in African countries, with electronic voting you have to go to the polling station to register,” said Ezekiel Kanagi Mutes.

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❗️The Russian Army carried out 50 group strikes on Ukrainian targets with high-precision weapons, MLRS and drones. All targets were hit.

🇷🇺🪖 Other statements from the Russian Defense Ministry weekly briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️In the Kherson area, Ukrainian losses amounted to over 270 soldiers;

▪️Near Avdeyevka, Russian forces repelled 64 counterattacks by Ukrainian troops. Ukrainian losses amounted to more than 2,710 soldiers, three tanks, including Abrams;

▪️In the Kupyansk area, the Russian Army improved the situation along the front line and repelled 22 attacks by Ukrainian troops;

▪️ Russian aviation and air defenses destroyed a MiG-29, two Mi-8, a Tochka-U missile, five Hammer bombs, 86 MLRS shells, 915 drones;

▪️In the South Donetsk area, Ukrainian losses amounted to more than 980 soldiers.

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❗️The Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked polling stations in the city of Kakhovka and the village of Brilyovka in the Kherson region, the region's Election Commission reported.

Tragic consequences were avoided in Kakhovka, while there were victims in Brilyovka.

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Voting in style: Parade of characters take Russian polling stations by storm

In Russia, presidential elections are in full swing. At polling stations you can meet from ordinary citizens to cartoon characters and Russian tsars.

▪️In Veliky Novgorod, Russian Prince Alexander Nevsky personally participated in the voting process.

▪️In Severo-Kurilsk which is located in the northern part of the Kuril Islands, despite difficult weather conditions, people go to elect Russian president.

▪️Ded Moroz (the Russian Santa Claus) has also made his choice.

Who else unusual can you meet at polling stations in Russia?

Watch Sputnik's video to find out!

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