Putin Casts Parliamentary Election as Barometer of Support for War, Urges Russians to Vote

By Reuters Sep. 16, 2026 President Vladimir Putin at the United Russia party congress in June. Kremlin.ru President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday framed participation in an upcoming parliamentary election as a barometer of support for Russia's war in Ukraine and urged Russians to vote. Russia holds a three-day parliamentary election starting on Friday to choose the composition of its 450-seat lower house of parliament, the State Duma, which has a track record of faithfully approving the Kremlin's initiatives. It is the first parliamentary election since Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022 and comes at a time when opinion polls show some Russians have become more anxious about how the conflict affects them, as the economy is under strain, and as most anti-war candidates have been excluded from the ballot. The political system is tightly controlled and the ruling United Russia party, backed by Putin, is widely expected to retain its dominance. In a televised address to the nation ahead of the vote, Putin referred to the war in Ukraine and to Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine, saying that casting a vote would help secure Russia's victory and demonstrate national resolve in the face of external pressure. "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, or in undermining our statehood and our socio-political system," Putin said. He said the vote would serve as a collective response to those seeking to weaken Russia, hinder its development, and deprive it of its sovereignty and right to determine its own future. Read more about: Elections , Putin 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. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me 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. Read more Feature Kremlin Eases Quarantine for Access to Putin as Presidential Elections Approach At the same time, personal meetings with Putin now hold greater significance for members of the establishment than ever amid the war in Ukraine. 5 Min read Kremlin Says 'Theoretically Possible' to Not Hold Presidential Elections "It’s already obvious that Putin will be elected,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. 2 Min read Feature Kremlin Brings ‘Party of War’ to Heel Ahead of Key Regional, Presidential Elections The Kremlin seeks to deploy the same tactics it used to crush the opposition against prominent far-right “patriots,” Russian officials told The Moscow... 4 Min read Putin Urges Russians to Vote After Critics Barred From Election Putin's United Russia party is widely expected to retain its majority in the lower house State Duma after the election.