The official data for the presidential elections in Russia report very high voting percentages in the parts of the four Ukrainian regions occupied by the Russians at the end of the first of the three days of voting.
According to the Ria Novosti agency, in the Donetsk region over 69% of eligible voters voted, in the Lugansk region 36%, in the Zaporizhzhia region 55% and in the Kherson region almost 69%.
Voting operations had already been underway in the four regions since February 25th.
Meanwhile, according to the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, Western countries have tried in every way to "boycott" the presidential elections in Russia, including with the use of "agents of influence or simply mercenaries" among the opposition ranks, but they didn't succeed.
In the last year - said Zakharova - Europeans and Americans have tried in every way to "ruin the presidential elections, prevent them or distort the concept of elections".
And this also with online disinformation campaigns and blocking the apps of Russian organizations and digital platforms.
All this "was of no use", adds Zakharova, assuring that Russia has instead united "in the face of the threat" and "to solve the problems we face".
Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA