Full Breakdown
Election as War Test: Final Day of Russia’s State Duma Vote
By Drooid · · How we work
Election Day and Drone Assault (September 18-20, 2026)
Russia’s three-day parliamentary election began on September 18 and concluded on September 20, the first State Duma vote since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. President Vladimir Putin framed it as a barometer of public backing for the war. On the final day, Moscow and the surrounding region were hit by a large-scale drone raid that authorities said aimed to disrupt the election. Two people were reported killed – a 44-year-old woman and an elderly man – and a major oil refinery sustained damage. An online voting system used in Moscow was also reported to have been under a cyber-attack overnight on September 19.
Background & Context
United Russia, the Kremlin-linked party that controls roughly 70 % of Duma seats, was expected to retain its super-majority. Opposition parties with anti-war stances were largely excluded: the liberal Yabloko party was barred from the party-list ballot after a Supreme Court decision, and most anti-war candidates were prevented from running. The Kremlin has framed the election as a “referendum on the war,” linking voter turnout to national unity. Analysts note that war-related economic strain and growing fatigue have lowered United Russia’s approval ratings, prompting the regime to seek a legitimacy boost.
Data & Statistics
- 1,600+ drones shot down across all fronts since September 19; 450 were heading for Moscow (Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin).
- Two fatalities reported in the Moscow region (Governor Andrei Vorobyov).
- The Moscow oil refinery – supplying about 40 % of the city’s fuel market – suffered damage, though the extent was not immediately confirmed.
- Remote electronic voting in Moscow recorded roughly 2.2 million votes in the first 24 hours; about 2.18 million votes were registered overall (Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova).
- United Russia needs at least 300 of its 310 seats to keep a constitutional super-majority.
Official Statements & Responses
Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova asserted that the cyber-attack on Moscow’s electronic voting system had been repelled and that voting continued without interruption. Kyiv dismissed the Russian vote as a “pseudo-election” and offered no comment on the drone strike.
Criticism & Opposition
Feminist activist Daria Serenko, co-founder of the Feminist Anti-War Resistance group, warned that campaigns targeting United Russia candidates were unlikely to unseat them but could raise public awareness of the war’s unpopularity.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Casualties: Reuters and The Guardian reported two deaths, while Sobyanin later said no casualties occurred in the city itself.
- Refinery damage: Sobyanin confirmed a facility on the refinery’s territory was hit, but the scale of damage was not disclosed.
- Cyber-attack details: Pamfilova described the attack as “very powerful and continued,” yet did not identify the source or confirm whether any votes were altered.
- Election results: Initial results were expected around 1800 GMT on September 20, with full tallies due by September 22, but no definitive numbers were available at the time of reporting.
What’s Next
- Preliminary results are slated for release around 1800 GMT on September 20, with complete official tallies expected by September 22.
- Analysts anticipate that the composition of the new Duma will influence Russia’s domestic policy and its capacity to pursue further military actions.
- International observers will monitor whether the election outcome alters the Kremlin’s diplomatic posture amid ongoing Western sanctions and the war’s fifth-year stalemate.