Russia’s United Russia leads wartime election after Moscow drone attack
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| Voting station with polling booths. Illustrative image. The image is representative of the parliamentary election process in Russia. |
Russia’s ruling United Russia party was on course to retain control of the State Duma as partial official results showed it well ahead in the country’s first parliamentary election since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. President Vladimir Putin had presented the vote as a measure of support for his policies and the war.
With partial results counted, United Russia had received 57.5% of the vote. The Communist Party, LDPR, New People and Just Russia were trailing but were also on course to win seats in the lower house.
The election took place as Ukraine launched a large drone attack on Moscow and other Russian regions. Russian officials said the strikes were intended to disrupt the voting, while Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the attack had been repelled.
Three people were killed in the Moscow region and two others died in Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine’s Kherson region, including an election official, according to regional authorities and Russia’s election commission. A section of an oil refinery in Moscow was also damaged, with fires and heavy smoke reported near the site.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said it had intercepted nearly 2,000 Ukrainian drones and eight cruise missiles over a 24-hour period. The ministry said Russia would increase strikes against Ukrainian military targets in response.
The voting system also experienced cyberattacks, according to election authorities, who said the overall process had continued largely without disruption. Long lines appeared at some polling stations after opposition groups based outside Russia called on people opposed to the authorities to gather at noon.
Turnout had reached almost 57% by early evening Moscow time, according to Central Election Commission data. Most anti-war candidates had been excluded from the ballot, while candidates from the liberal Yabloko party said they feared possible legal consequences for opposing the war.
Yabloko leader Nikolai Rybakov publicly spoiled his ballot by writing the party’s name and the words “For peace.” Russian authorities say national unity and restrictions on information are necessary during what they call their “special military operation” in Ukraine.
The Kremlin is expected to use the election results as evidence of domestic support for Putin’s policies and the war. Critics of Russia’s political system argue that restrictions on opposition candidates and dissent limit the ability of voters to challenge the authorities through elections.
Ukraine, which has suspended national elections under martial law, rejected the Russian vote as a “pseudo election.” The election was also held in Ukrainian territories controlled by Russia, where Kyiv does not recognize the voting process or its results.
Despite the expected dominance of United Russia, analysts cited by the source said permitted opposition parties could gain some support as the economic effects of the war become more visible. The Communist Party and New People party were identified as possible beneficiaries of dissatisfaction among some voters.
