Sept. 20, 2026, 11:13 a.m. ET
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4 min read
Russia conducted its first wartime parliamentary election on Sunday, a vote widely expected to solidify President Vladimir Putin’s grip on power amid mounting opposition crackdowns and security challenges. The final day of voting coincided with a significant Ukrainian drone offensive targeting the capital, Moscow, and other regions, with over 1,000 drones launched overnight, according to Russian authorities.
The election, which commenced Friday, utilized online voting mechanisms to boost participation among Russia’s 111 million eligible voters. It also marked the inclusion of residents from four Ukrainian territories annexed by Russia since the conflict’s onset, though these regions remain contested and not fully controlled by Moscow. Voting occurred in Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014.
The election saw widespread condemnation from Kyiv and Western allies, who labeled the vote illegal. The European Union described it as a “blatant violation of international law.”
Kremlin Projecting Control Through Vote
The Kremlin aims to leverage the election to demonstrate popular backing for its war efforts and legitimize its actions internationally. By suppressing dissent, authorities seek to minimize political risks, relying on state media narratives and a tightly managed process to guarantee favorable outcomes despite economic strain and intensified Ukrainian attacks.
Voters participated in two stages: selecting parties from a centralized list for half the State Duma’s 450 seats, and choosing individual candidates in single-member districts. Preliminary results from western regions were anticipated within hours of voting’s conclusion.
United Russia, the ruling party, is projected to retain its supermajority, supported by smaller “systemic opposition” parties aligned with Putin’s policies. These factions are expected to maintain their legislative presence amid a landscape devoid of competitive challenges.
Opposition Marginalized, Observers Blocked
The liberal Yabloko party, the sole registered entity openly opposing the war, was disqualified from ballots by Russia’s Supreme Court last month. Its candidates in single-district races numbered only a few dozen. Anti-war politicians faced imprisonment or exile ahead of the campaign.
Yabloko and the Communist Party, which critiques certain policies while avoiding direct condemnation of Putin, reported denied access for election monitors. Russia excluded OSCE observers, accusing the organization of bias, a decision the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly condemned as a breach of Russia’s international obligations.
Incidents included an observer fainting during arrest in St. Petersburg over alleged interference allegations. Allegations of ballot box tampering, unsecured polling stations, and denied paper ballots were reported but lacked independent verification.
At a Donetsk region polling station, voters cast ballots under the watch of armed Russian soldiers.
Electronic Voting Controversy
Cyberattacks targeted Moscow’s electronic voting system, according to election chief Ella Pamfilova. Independent outlet SotaVision reported technical failures preventing paper ballot distribution, directing voters to electronic terminals. Opposition figure Leonid Volkov, associate of Alexei Navalny, suggested the glitch might have been intentional to funnel voters to digital systems.
Yabloko leader Nikolai Rybakov encouraged supporters to spoil party-list ballots, inscribing “For freedom,” “For peace,” and “Yabloko” on his vote in St. Petersburg.
Dissident Circles Organize Abroad
Opposition figures outside Russia, including Alexei Navalny’s widow Yulia Navalnaya, mobilized expatriate voters. Thousands in Armenia queued at the Russian Embassy in Yerevan to participate in a “Noon for a Peaceful Russia” demonstration, displaying anti-war and anti-Putin symbols. In Germany, Berlin residents voted at the Russian Embassy amid protests led by dissident Andrei Pivovarov.
Ukrainian Drone Offensive Intensifies
The election’s final day featured Ukraine’s largest drone strike yet, targeting Russian territory and annexed Crimea. Russian defenses reportedly intercepted 1,110 drones, causing two deaths and 20 injuries in the Moscow region, per local governor Andrei Vorobyov.
The campaign followed Ukraine’s earlier strikes on oil refineries and retail warehouses, exacerbating economic instability and blurring the conflict’s domestic impact.
This story was reported by the Associated Press.
