In a highly anticipated election, partial results indicate that President Vladimir Putin is set to extend his rule over Russia, solidifying his position as the country's longest-serving leader since Joseph Stalin. With half of the ballots counted, Putin is leading with a staggering 87.3% of the vote, according to preliminary results reported by Russia's Central Election Commission (CEC) on Sunday.

Despite little doubt about the outcome, the election is a crucial ritual for the Kremlin to reaffirm Putin's authority. The recent constitutional changes removed presidential term limits, potentially allowing him to remain in power until 2036 when he will be 77 years old. This victory secures a third full decade of rule for Putin, who has faced few credible challenges due to the suppression of opposition voices and dissent in Russia.

The carefully orchestrated election took place amidst a backdrop of opposition candidates being either dead, jailed, exiled, or barred from running. Dissent and protests have effectively been outlawed in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, further ensuring Putin's dominance in the political landscape.

As expected, Putin's fiercest opponents have met untimely ends. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of the Wagner mercenary group, was killed in a plane crash just two months after leading a failed uprising. Alexey Navalny, Putin's most formidable opponent, was poisoned with a Soviet-era nerve agent in 2020 and subsequently died in a Russian prison earlier this year. Navalny's death sparked international outrage and further scrutiny of the Kremlin's involvement.

In his victory speech, Putin declared that the election had "consolidated" national unity, emphasizing the ongoing confrontation with the West while dismissing attempts to suppress Russia's will. He mentioned the possibility of a prisoner swap involving Navalny, marking a break from his usual reluctance to mention the opposition figure by name.

The election was marred by incidents of defiance and electoral irregularities, including cases of election fraud, ballot box tampering, and fires at polling stations. Ukraine condemned the elections held in the four Ukrainian regions annexed by Russia, denouncing them as a violation of international law and declaring them "null and void." Evidence also emerged of voter coercion, with Russian soldiers accompanying election officials during the collection of ballots in occupied Ukraine.

Putin's invasion of Ukraine has profoundly reshaped geopolitics, straining Russia's relations with the West and prompting sanctions. The conflict has taken a significant toll on the Russian population, with Western officials estimating that over 300,000 Russian troops have been killed or injured. The war has also worsened Russia's economy, leading to inflation, rising costs of basic goods, and an exodus of young professionals from the country.

Amidst these challenges, Putin has sought to forge new alliances with countries such as China, North Korea, and Iran, which have not condemned the invasion, to strengthen Russia's global position. However, critics argue that such foreign policy distractions serve to divert attention from the country's pressing domestic issues, including low life expectancy and widespread poverty.

As Putin's victory in the election becomes a certainty, the grip on power tightens, further solidifying his status as a dominant leader in Russia. His critics decry the erosion of democratic values and the suppression of dissent, while supporters view him as a strong leader steering Russia through a turbulent geopolitical landscape.