Story perspectives

Putin’s United Russia Wins Projected Duma Majority Amid Exclusions

By Drooid · Sep 19, 2026, 11:08 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Kremlin excludes Yabloko

Russia held State Duma elections nationwide from September 18 to 20, 2026.
Germany accused the Kremlin of a drone at Leipzig Airport and shut the Russian cultural centre in Berlin and its consulate in Bonn, citing espionage.
United Russia is projected to keep or enlarge its majority in the 450-seat Duma.
The Kremlin excluded the liberal Yabloko party from the ballot, blocking its anti-war candidates.

Right

Fuel Crisis Erodes Support

Russia conducted State Duma elections nationwide from September 18 to 20, 2026.
Coverage highlighted growing public frustration and economic strain, noting fuel shortages and a drop in war support from 78 % to 66 %.
President Vladimir Putin told the United Russia Party Congress the election would confirm state stability.
In August, seven-in-ten Russian petrol stations ran out of fuel after drone strikes on refineries.

Blindspot

Germany accused the Kremlin of launching a drone at Leipzig Airport and, citing espionage concerns, closed the Russian cultural centre in Berlin and the Russian consulate in Bonn.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

The February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine prompted 141 UN member states to demand an immediate withdrawal and triggered EU sanctions worth €14 billion in frozen assets. Those measures shut Russian banks from SWIFT and closed cultural sites in Germany. The same isolation underpins the September 2026 State Duma vote, where United Russia is set to dominate and the liberal Yabloko party is barred.

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Kremlin excludes Yabloko

Russia held State Duma elections nationwide from September 18 to 20, 2026.
Germany accused the Kremlin of a drone at Leipzig Airport and shut the Russian cultural centre in Berlin and its consulate in Bonn, citing espionage.
United Russia is projected to keep or enlarge its majority in the 450-seat Duma.
The Kremlin excluded the liberal Yabloko party from the ballot, blocking its anti-war candidates.

1 / 4