Putin Says Election Turnout Shows Russians Support Military Agenda

By Reuters Sep. 23, 2026 Vladimir Putin. kremlin.ru President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that high turnout in last weekend's parliamentary election showed that Russians support their Armed Forces fighting in Ukraine and the authorities' efforts to protect national security. Putin had framed the election, held from Sept. 18-20, as a test of public support for the 4.5-year war in Ukraine and for his avowed determination to fight on until key military aims are met. Near-complete results on Monday showed the pro-Putin ruling United Russia party had retained its decisive majority in the lower house of parliament in a tightly controlled political system that excluded most candidates who oppose the war. Russia's Central Electoral Commission put turnout at 59.3%, which the state-run TASS news agency said was higher than in most recent elections for the lower-house State Duma. Commenting on the results publicly for the first time, Putin said: "Such a high, even record, number of people who came out and voted shows that the people of Russia support our efforts aimed at strengthening the country." During part of Wednesday's televised speech, he addressed soldiers on the front line directly: "This vote is for you. People believe in you, believe in our victory, believe in your courage, in your heroism." The pro-Putin United Russia party is set to control 355 seats or nearly 80% of the 450 seats — a record number — in the Duma after winning more than 57% of votes, the near-complete results showed on Monday. Read more about: Putin , Elections , 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. 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 Russian Election, Cast as Test of Support for Ukraine War, Enters Final Day A parliamentary election that Putin has cast as a test of support for the war in Ukraine entered its third day, with the ruling United Russia party expected... 3 Min read Feature The Kremlin Has Clinched Six More Years of Putin’s Rule. What's Next? Putin has predictably claimed a record victory. The main question now is what Russians and the world should expect from him next. 5 Min read Russia Begins Voting as Ukraine Steps Up Border Attacks Putin is seeking re-election with no real competition, while the Kremlin says the vote will show that the country is fully behind its assault on Ukraine... 4 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