The dust has settled on the 2024 Russian presidential election and, unsurprisingly, the incumbent Vladimir Putin has secured another six-year term at the pinnacle of his country’s politics. 

Recording a crushing voting percentage of nearly 88 per cent, Putin echoes prior fraudulent winning margins recorded by the likes of Saddam Hussein.

Closing in on leadership tenure records held by Catherine the Great and Ivan the Terrible, Putin has secured his base of power and will likely now push on with unpopular policies to support the Ukraine war, such as increased mobilisation of troops.

Roland Oliphant, The Telegraph’s senior foreign correspondent, analyses the frantic events of the Russian election and the first steps Putin may take after his crushing victory.