Russian Election, Cast as Test of Support for Ukraine War, Enters Final Day - The Moscow Times
أخبار روسيا
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أخبار روسيا
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Russia's parliamentary election enters its final day with the ruling United Russia party expected to dominate, as the Kremlin presents the vote as a test of public support for the war in Ukraine. Most anti-war candidates were barred from the ballot, and opposition parties warn of intensifying repression against dissenting voices.
Russian Election, Cast as Test of Support for Ukraine War, Enters Final Day - The Moscow Times
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Russian Election, Cast as Test of Support for Ukraine War, Enters Final Day
By Andrew Osborn for Reuters
6 hours ago
*A woman casts her ballot for Russia's parliamentary election at a polling station in Klimovsk in the Moscow region, on September 19, 2026.
Igor Ivanko/AFP*
A parliamentary election that President Vladimir Putin has cast as a test of support for Russia's war in Ukraine entered its third and final day on Sunday, with the ruling United Russia party expected to retain its dominance in a political system critics say does not tolerate dissent.
The State Duma vote, the first since Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022, is likely to be presented by the Kremlin as evidence of public backing for Putin's policies and for the war, Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II, now in its fifth year with no sign of ending soon.
Most anti-war candidates were barred from the ballot. Those who did run from the liberal Yabloko party, which has polled in the single digits in recent years but hoped to tap into war fatigue, said they feared for their freedom after courts handed long jail terms to two senior party figures before the vote for comments about the conflict deemed illegal by authorities.
Discrediting the army or spreading what authorities regard as fake news are punishable by lengthy prison sentences.
The Kremlin says national unity and some censorship are necessary during what it calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine. It casts the conflict as part of an existential struggle with a hostile West and says Ukrainian intelligence services and other enemies are stepping up efforts to stir unrest inside Russia.
Putin on Friday accused Ukraine of trying to interfere in the election, citing what he said was a Ukrainian strike on the home of an election official in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region that killed Yelena Astanina, the official. Reuters could not independently verify details of the attack and there was no immediate comment from Kyiv.
Russian electoral officials also said on Saturday that an online voting system in Moscow had come under cyberattack. Kyiv, which has suspended elections under martial law, has dismissed the Russian vote as a "pseudo election."
news
Russians Prepare for an Election With Less Choice Than Ever Read more
Despite what most experts see as the election's predictable outcome, the NEST think-tank in Berlin, co-founded by Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, whom Russian authorities have designated "a foreign agent", said the vote could still produce awkward moments for the Kremlin at a time of economic strain.
"The consequences of the war are increasingly being felt within the country, and accumulated anxiety and frustration may translate into votes for the systemic opposition parties that the Kremlin has allowed to remain on the ballot," it said in a note.
It said the Communist party and the New People party could attract votes the authorities would prefer to go to United Russia. Both parties have consistently voted in line with United Russia on major issues.
Putin told the nation in a televised address before the election that the vote would underline support for Russian troops fighting in Ukraine.
"Your choice, and your will, will once again demonstrate that millions of people stand behind our soldiers, that we are a united people bound together by shared values, historical memory, and love for our homeland, and that no one will succeed in dividing or intimidating us," said Putin.
Initial results are expected to start emerging at around 18:00 GMT on Sunday, with more complete results available on Monday.
news
On TikTok, Russia's Political Parties Court Voters Who Grew Up Under Putin Read more
Read more about: Elections , Putin , Ukraine war
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Russian Election, Cast as Test of Support for Ukraine War, Enters Final Day
By Andrew Osborn for Reuters
6 hours ago
*A woman casts her ballot for Russia's parliamentary election at a polling station in Klimovsk in the Moscow region, on September 19, 2026.
Igor Ivanko/AFP*
A parliamentary election that President Vladimir Putin has cast as a test of support for Russia's war in Ukraine entered its third and final day on Sunday, with the ruling United Russia party expected to retain its dominance in a political system critics say does not tolerate dissent.
The State Duma vote, the first since Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022, is likely to be presented by the Kremlin as evidence of public backing for Putin's policies and for the war, Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II, now in its fifth year with no sign of ending soon.
Most anti-war candidates were barred from the ballot. Those who did run from the liberal Yabloko party, which has polled in the single digits in recent years but hoped to tap into war fatigue, said they feared for their freedom after courts handed long jail terms to two senior party figures before the vote for comments about the conflict deemed illegal by authorities.
Discrediting the army or spreading what authorities regard as fake news are punishable by lengthy prison sentences.
The Kremlin says national unity and some censorship are necessary during what it calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine. It casts the conflict as part of an existential struggle with a hostile West and says Ukrainian intelligence services and other enemies are stepping up efforts to stir unrest inside Russia.
Putin on Friday accused Ukraine of trying to interfere in the election, citing what he said was a Ukrainian strike on the home of an election official in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region that killed Yelena Astanina, the official. Reuters could not independently verify details of the attack and there was no immediate comment from Kyiv.
Russian electoral officials also said on Saturday that an online voting system in Moscow had come under cyberattack. Kyiv, which has suspended elections under martial law, has dismissed the Russian vote as a "pseudo election."
news
Russians Prepare for an Election With Less Choice Than Ever Read more
Despite what most experts see as the election's predictable outcome, the NEST think-tank in Berlin, co-founded by Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, whom Russian authorities have designated "a foreign agent", said the vote could still produce awkward moments for the Kremlin at a time of economic strain.
"The consequences of the war are increasingly being felt within the country, and accumulated anxiety and frustration may translate into votes for the systemic opposition parties that the Kremlin has allowed to remain on the ballot," it said in a note.
It said the Communist party and the New People party could attract votes the authorities would prefer to go to United Russia. Both parties have consistently voted in line with United Russia on major issues.
Putin told the nation in a televised address before the election that the vote would underline support for Russian troops fighting in Ukraine.
"Your choice, and your will, will once again demonstrate that millions of people stand behind our soldiers, that we are a united people bound together by shared values, historical memory, and love for our homeland, and that no one will succeed in dividing or intimidating us," said Putin.
Initial results are expected to start emerging at around 18:00 GMT on Sunday, with more complete results available on Monday.
news
On TikTok, Russia's Political Parties Court Voters Who Grew Up Under Putin Read more
Read more about: Elections , Putin , Ukraine war
Sign up for our free weekly newsletter
Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
*Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy*
We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription.
**A Message from The Moscow Times:**
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $
2\.
It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
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Monthly
Annual
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Other
Continue
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Not ready to support today?
Remind me later
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Thank you! Your reminder is set.
We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy.
Most read
Just in
* 6 hours ago 2 Dead in Moscow Region, Drones Hit Oil Refinery in Russian Capital
* 6 hours ago Russian Election, Cast as Test of Support for Ukraine War, Enters Final Day
* 15 hours ago Former Russian Official Elected President of South Ossetia
* one day ago With United Russia’s Election Victory All But Certain, Some Russians Are Still Pushing Back
* one day ago ‘Writing Was Reclaiming That Power’: Lana Estemirova on Her Mother and the Chechen Wars
* one day ago Trump Signs Sweeping Russia Sanctions Bill
* Sep. 18, 2026 On TikTok, Russia's Political Parties Court Voters Who Grew Up Under Putin
* 1 Trump Signs Sweeping Russia Sanctions Bill
* 2 With United Russia’s Election Victory All But Certain, Some Russians Are Still Pushing Back
* 3 ‘Writing Was Reclaiming That Power’: Lana Estemirova on Her Mother and the Chechen Wars
* 4 Former Russian Official Elected President of South Ossetia
* 5 Russian Election, Cast as Test of Support for Ukraine War, Enters Final Day
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