Russia's Economic Reality Bites: What the Upcoming Elections Reveal The Kremlin is gearing up for its parliamentary elections, which are likely to cement United Russia's dominance over the State Duma.
However, beneath this certainty lies a more nuanced story of a nation struggling to cope with the economic fallout of war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin faces an uphill battle to justify his country's prolonged involvement in Ukraine to a population growing increasingly frustrated with the economic costs of conflict.