Full Breakdown
Russia Holds First Wartime State Duma Election, Including Occupied Ukrainian Territories
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Core Event
Voting ran from September 18-20 for the 450-seat State Duma. For the first time since the 2022 invasion, the ballot covered Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea. United Russia, led by President Vladimir Putin, is expected to keep its super-majority.
Background & Context
In September 2022 Russia annexed four Ukrainian oblasts, a move not recognised internationally. The 2026 election is the first national poll after those annexations and follows a court ruling that barred the liberal Yabloko party from the party list, though some members remain in single-mandate races. The vote occurs amid a fifth year of war and growing war-weariness among Russians.
Data & Statistics
- Seats: 450 total; United Russia holds 310 and needs at least 300 for a constitutional super-majority.
- Parties: Nine parties on the ballot, all Kremlin-aligned; systemic opposition parties vote in line with United Russia.
- Yabloko: Excluded from the party list after an August 17 Supreme Court ruling; a few candidates run as independents.
- Voter incentives: Point-based prizes for using electronic terminals.
- Drone activity: Over 350 Ukrainian drones were launched toward Moscow on the first voting day, according to Kyiv officials.
Official Statements & Responses
President Putin called the election a “demonstration of unity” and urged support for the armed forces. European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand called voting in occupied territories a “blatant violation of international law” and said the EU will not recognise the results. Ukrainian officials warned participation could carry criminal liability under Kyiv’s wartime legislation. Russia’s Central Election Commission cited security reasons for extending voting in annexed areas and said attacks on voting infrastructure were being repelled.
Criticism & Opposition
A coalition of nine human-rights groups described the polls as an attempt to “legitimise the Russian occupation.” OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pere Joan Pons criticised Russia’s refusal to invite observers, calling it a breach of its commitments. Research fellow Jaroslava Barbieri (Ukraine Forum, Chatham House) called the election environment “a total regime of terror.”
Why It Matters
The election aims to give the Kremlin a veneer of domestic legitimacy for its war strategy. Analysts note that a low turnout or contested result could prompt calls for a new mobilisation, a scenario the Kremlin denies. Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian energy sites have already caused fuel shortages, adding economic pressure on voters.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Yabloko’s participation: some say the party is fully excluded, others note individual members remain on the ballot. Casualty figures for Russian forces also vary, with Al Jazeera citing “over 300,000” losses in the past week, while other outlets provide no comparable data. No independent observer has verified turnout or vote-count integrity.