**Polls Close in Russia's Wartime Parliamentary Elections with Ruling Party Poised for Victory**
**Moscow, Russia – September 20, 2026** – Polls have officially closed in Russia's first parliamentary elections held during wartime, with preliminary indications suggesting that the ruling United Russia party is set to secure a significant victory. This election marks the first parliamentary vote since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the Kremlin is keen to use the results to demonstrate popular support for its military actions.
The elections, which began on September 18, were conducted under the shadow of ongoing conflict, with Russian officials alleging that Ukraine attempted to disrupt the voting process. Reports emerged of drone strikes targeting Moscow and other regions, described by the TASS state news agency as the most extensive attack of its kind since the war began. These strikes resulted in the deaths of at least three individuals in the Moscow region and two in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine's Kherson region, including an election official.
Despite these incidents, Russian authorities reported that the electoral process proceeded largely without major disruptions. The Central Election Commission announced a voter turnout of 56.66% by the time polls closed, with initial results expected to be released on the morning of September 21.
The elections involved approximately 111 million eligible voters, including those in four Ukrainian regions that Russia has annexed but does not fully control, as well as residents of Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. The Ukrainian government condemned the voting in these territories as illegal and urged the international community not to recognize the outcomes. The European Union characterized the elections as a “blatant violation of international law.”
Voters were required to cast two ballots: one for political parties to fill half of the 450 seats in the State Duma, and another for individual candidates in single-seat constituencies. The United Russia party, led by President Vladimir Putin, is expected to maintain its dominant position in the Duma, alongside several smaller parties that align with the Kremlin's policies on key issues.
The electoral landscape has been heavily influenced by a massive state media campaign and stringent controls over the election process, effectively stifling genuine opposition. The liberal Yabloko party, the only registered political entity that publicly criticized the war, was removed from the ballot by Russia’s Supreme Court last month, limiting its presence to a handful of candidates in single-constituency races. Furthermore, many anti-war politicians have either been imprisoned or forced into exile prior to the elections.
The absence of independent election observers, particularly from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), has raised concerns about the legitimacy of the electoral process. The Russian Foreign Ministry accused the OSCE of applying "double standards" in its critique of Russia, further complicating the international perception of the elections.
As the results begin to emerge, the Kremlin is likely to leverage the election outcome to bolster its narrative of public support for its military actions in Ukraine, despite the ongoing economic challenges and increasing military threats from Ukrainian drone attacks. The coming days will reveal the extent of United Russia's dominance and how the international community responds to the legitimacy of the elections conducted under such contentious circumstances.