Polling stations have closed across Russia for its first parliamentary election since the launch of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Kremlin’s United Russia party is widely anticipated to secure a commanding victory in the heavily managed electoral process, which Moscow intends to use as a platform to demonstrate public backing for the war effort.
Just before the close of polls, Russian officials accused Kyiv of attempting to interfere with the voting after Ukraine launched a significant drone offensive targeting Moscow and other regions. According to state news agency TASS, this was described as the largest such attack since the conflict began. The strikes resulted in at least three fatalities in the Moscow region and two deaths in the Russian-occupied portion of Ukraine’s Kherson region, including an election official.
While Russian authorities reported disruptions to electronic voting systems and communication lines, they maintained that the electoral process proceeded smoothly. Initial data from the Central Election Commission indicated a turnout of 56.66 percent. Full official results are scheduled for release on Monday morning.
The election, which opened on Friday for approximately 111 million eligible voters, included ballot casting in four Ukrainian regions illegally annexed by Russia in 2022, as well as Crimea, which Moscow seized in 2014. The European Union condemned the inclusion of these territories on Friday, labeling the move a “blatant violation of international law.” Kyiv has similarly denounced the vote as illegitimate and urged international partners not to recognize the outcomes.
Voters were tasked with selecting representatives for half of the 450 seats in the State Duma via party lists, while the remaining seats are filled through single-seat constituencies. United Russia is expected to retain its supermajority, alongside several smaller “systemic opposition” parties that generally align with President Vladimir Putin’s policies.
The political landscape was significantly narrowed prior to the vote. The Supreme Court removed the liberal Yabloko party from the ballot last month due to its opposition to the war, leaving it with only a handful of candidates in individual races. Several anti-war politicians have also been imprisoned or forced into exile.
Russia declined to invite observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), with the Russian Foreign Ministry previously accusing the body of applying double standards in its assessments of Russian elections.
56 percent turnout for a managed election in wartime is exactly what Moscow needs. Legitimacy through participation, regardless of fairness.
The drone strikes right before polling closed seem like a desperate move to disrupt the narrative. Hard to call this free.