Vladimir Putin’s political party has won more than 78 percent of the vote in sham elections that took place across the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, Kremlin-affiliated politicians have said.

Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, a pro-Russian force occupying the region, announced the results this morning.

Voting took place from the end of August across the four occupied regions before culminating in a final voting day on Sunday (September 10).

United Russia, the party to which Putin is de facto leader, received 78.03 percent of the vote. Its nearest competitor was the Liberal Democratic Party, which received just 6.25 percent of the vote, according to Mr Pushilin. The results of the other three regions are yet to be announced, though the outcome will likely be the same as in Donetsk.

Intimidation tactics, including the threat of “arrest, injury, torture or death”, were used against the Ukrainian population throughout the elections to ensure that United Russia emerged victorious.

You can read a more detailed report on the sham elections here.