Voting resumes after security measures are taken as Russians cast ballots in the first day of legislative elections.

On Friday, Sochi Mayor Andrei Proshunin informed that polling stations in the city on the Black Sea temporarily closed after a drone alert was declared in the region during the first day of Russia’s legislative elections.

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“Security measures have been taken at Sochi polling stations. Members of the electoral commissions, observers and voters who were at the polling stations were evacuated to shelters until the drone attack alert ended,” he wrote on his Telegram account.

He asked residents to “maintain safety measures” while the military repelled the aerial attack, following an alert declared at 9:20 a.m. local time. The air raid alarm was later lifted, and 244 polling stations resumed operations.

From Friday through Sunday, polling stations will operate across the country, including the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Chukotka Autonomous District, Russia’s easternmost regions.

🇷🇺🇺🇦🚨 Russian air defenses reportedly intercept drones over Sochi

Russian air defense systems near the Sochi Formula 1 circuit reportedly launched interceptor missiles during a Ukrainian drone attack, with debris and impacts reportedly causing damage within the city.

Sochi is…

— The Political Inspector | TPI (@PnPPolitics) September 15, 2026

More than 111 million Russians in 89 regions have been called to the polls to elect the 450 deputies who will make up the Lower House (Duma) across more than 90,000 polling stations.

The ruling United Russia party will seek to retain the constitutional majority it won in 2016. Three or four other parties are expected to enter the Duma, including the Communist Party.

The party opposing war, Yabloko, will not be on the ballot after being excluded by the Supreme Court, but about 100 of its candidates still have a chance to win seats as deputies through electoral districts.

Russians and Ukrainians have not agreed to any truce — they did so for the recent visit to both capitals by U.S. envoys — so attacks cannot be ruled out during the next 72 hours.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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