Russian Election Commission Registers 1.6K War Veterans as Candidates in Upcoming Races

Aug. 26, 2026 er.ru Russian election authorities said Wednesday that they have registered nearly 1,600 Ukraine war veterans to run as candidates in federal, regional and local elections taking place next month. A total of 1,586 war veterans out of 1,668 who had filed for nomination were cleared to run, Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova said. At least 200 veterans have been nominated for seats in the 450-member State Duma, she added. One veteran is running for governor. “I’m confident that our voters will show them total support and trust,” Pamfilova was quoted as saying at a press conference by the Interfax news agency. In March 2025, reports indicated that the Kremlin planned to place up to 100 Ukraine war veterans into the State Duma this year in what was described as the “easiest” way to integrate them into government. That number would account for more than one-fifth of the lower house of parliament’s seats. Pamfilova called the veteran candidates “more than worthy” and said their election into public office would serve as “major proof of the renewal of our legislative body.” President Vladimir Putin has hailed Ukraine war veterans as Russia’s “new elite.” Several state-backed programs have since worked to elevate thousands of them into government positions. Pamfilova said 1,486 of the nominated veterans were backed by political parties, but did not specify which party had the most nominees. Another 100 are running as self-nominated independent candidates, she told reporters. In the September 2024 elections, 308 war veterans representing United Russia won in local and regional races. Pamfilova added that more than 2 million voters said they wanted to vote online during the September elections. Read more about: Elections , Veterans 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 1.6K Ukraine War Veterans Nominated for Russia’s 2025 Regional Elections Election authorities said over 1,000 veterans are running for local office in 67 regions, while two are running for governor. 1 Min read Hundreds of Ukraine War Veterans Win Office in Russia’s Regional Elections More than 300 veterans secured political office at the local and regional levels, as Moscow seeks to further boost support for its war efforts. 1 Min read Meet Putin’s Possible Election Opponent: A Single Mother of 3 Calling for Peace Yekaterina Duntsova believes her age, gender and lack of experience in Kremlin politics could be assets. But she faces a long, challenging road ahead. 5 Min read Russia Accuses U.S. of Meddling in Local Elections The U.S. allegedly wired money to Russian foundations to support certain gubernatorial candidates.