Russian President Vladimir Putin has forged the vote as a check of assist for his ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Printed On 20 Sep 2026
Polls have closed in Russia’s first wartime parliamentary elections, with the ruling United Russia get together on target to win the tightly managed vote.
The Kremlin needs the elections, the primary parliamentary vote because the begin of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, to showcase fashionable assist for the conflict and legitimise its motion.
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Russian authorities officers accused Ukraine of making an attempt to disrupt voting after Kyiv launched hundreds of drones at Moscow and different areas in what the TASS state information company stated was the most important assault of its variety because the conflict started.
The drone strikes on Sunday killed not less than three individuals within the Moscow area and two extra within the Russian-held a part of Ukraine’s Kherson area, together with an election official, in accordance with the area’s governor and the election fee.
Russian authorities additionally reported attacks on the country’s electronic voting systems and communication traces in the course of the polls, however stated the electoral course of was principally clean.
Preliminary outcomes confirmed the United Russia get together comfortably forward, and Russia’s Central Election Fee stated turnout on the shut of polls stood at 56.66 p.c.
The primary official outcomes and turnout are anticipated on Monday morning.
Voting in Russian-held Ukrainian areas
The vote, which started on Friday for 111 million eligible voters, included residents of 4 Ukrainian areas that Moscow illegally annexed after the conflict started, however nonetheless doesn’t absolutely management, in addition to these in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.
Authorities in Kyiv denounced the voting within the Russian-held areas as unlawful and urged overseas governments to not recognise the consequence. The European Union on Friday known as the motion a “blatant violation of worldwide regulation”.
Voters forged two separate ballots, filling half of the decrease home’s 450 seats by deciding on political events listed on the poll. The remainder are contested in single-seat constituencies, with voters selecting particular person candidates.
The primary Kremlin get together, United Russia, is extensively anticipated to retain its overwhelming management of the State Duma. A number of smaller events of the “systemic opposition” that vote in sync with Putin’s views on all key points are additionally anticipated to take care of their presence.
A large state media marketing campaign and tight management over the elections within the absence of real opposition all however guarantee the Kremlin will preserve tight management of Russian politics amid mounting financial prices and growing Ukrainian drone assaults deep contained in the nation.
The liberal Yabloko get together, the one registered political entity that dared to publicly criticise the conflict, was faraway from the poll final month by Russia’s Supreme Court docket. It solely has a couple of dozen candidates within the single-constituency races.
Moreover, some anti-war politicians have been imprisoned or compelled to flee overseas forward of the marketing campaign.
Russia didn’t invite election observers from the Group for Safety and Cooperation in Europe. The Russian Overseas Ministry has accused the physique of “double requirements” for its criticism of Russia.
