Russians cast ballots on Day 2 of an election preordained to extend President Vladimir Putin’s rule

By EMMA BURROWS
Associated Press

Voters across Russia have cast ballots on the second day of an election set to formalize six more years of power for Vladimir Putin. The Russian president faces no serious challengers after crushing political dissent over his nearly quarter-century of rule. The election comes against the backdrop of a ruthless crackdown that has crippled independent media and prominent rights groups. Putin’s fiercest foe Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic prison last month. And other critics are either in jail or in exile. The 71-year-old Putin faces three token rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties who have refrained from any criticism of him or his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That war was visible on Russia’s streets Saturday as Ukrainian drone and missile attacks once again hit the country.