Russia’s ruling United Russia party secured more than three-fourths of the seats in the lower house of parliament following the nation’s first wartime parliamentary election, according to official preliminary results released by the Central Election Commission. The tightly orchestrated vote, held over three days from Friday to Sunday, excluded virtually any genuine opposition while maintaining strict control amid ongoing security challenges and Kyiv’s denunciation of voting in illegally annexed Ukrainian regions.
United Russia Dominates State Duma With Record Seat Share
United Russia is set to claim 355 out of 450 seats in the State Duma, according to preliminary results reported by the Central Election Commission. The party polled just under 58% of the vote for the 225 seats apportioned by parties and won 208 single-seat races. The outcome strengthens the ruling party’s already overwhelming control, marking a record high for the faction. Several smaller parties representing the “systemic opposition,” which routinely vote in sync with Kremlin priorities, will fill most of the remaining seats, alongside a handful of unaffiliated candidates.
Authorities reported a voter turnout exceeding 59%, the highest for a parliamentary election in over a decade. Officials attributed the elevated turnout in part to the three-day voting window and expanded electronic balloting. However, critics argued that digital voting formats gave the government greater leverage to oversee and control the final outcome, according to reporting from the Associated Press.
Wartime Voting Extends to Seized Ukrainian Territories
For the first time, the parliamentary election included residents living in four Ukrainian regions seized and illegally annexed by Moscow in 2022, alongside Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. At a polling station in the Russian-held portion of the Donetsk region, voters dropped ballots into boxes under the watchful gaze of armed Russian soldiers, according to Associated Press documentation. Kyiv strongly denounced the balloting across all annexed territories as entirely illegal under international law.
Tatyana Stanovaya of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center noted in an online commentary that the government was “able to carry out the campaign and the voting the way it wanted, with the most optimal output.” The Kremlin aimed to use the electoral process to demonstrate public backing for its military campaign in Ukraine, deploying a massive state media apparatus while systematically silencing domestic dissent.
Did you know? Russia did not invite election monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), with the Foreign Ministry citing “double standards.” OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pere Joan Pons stated that the exclusion breached Moscow’s commitments as a member state.
Dissent Silenced Amid Unprecedented Capital Drone Strikes
Ahead of the balloting, the liberal Yabloko party—the only registered political entity that dared to publicly criticize the war—was removed from the ballot by Russia’s Supreme Court last month. Other anti-war politicians were imprisoned or forced to flee abroad. Despite having only a few dozen candidates in single-seat races and winning zero seats, Yabloko highlighted that five of its candidates in Moscow finished second with more than 10% of the vote each. Ivan Bolshakov, head of the party’s analytical center, called this a sign that “demands for peace and freedom enjoy significant support.”
The election coincided with intensive military escalations. On Sunday, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported downing 1,110 Ukrainian drones overnight. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that 450 drones were intercepted while approaching the capital in what he termed “the largest ever” attack on the city, which damaged an oil refinery and a residential building. Greater Moscow Gov. Andrei Vorobyov reported three deaths, while the Health Ministry confirmed 38 injuries resulting from the strikes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of seats did United Russia win?
United Russia is set to secure 355 out of 450 seats, representing more than three-fourths of the State Duma, according to the Central Election Commission.
When were the final election results scheduled?
Final results for the three-day parliamentary election are scheduled to be officially announced on Friday.
Were international observers present?
No. Russia declined to invite observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, leading to criticism from international officials regarding treaty commitments.
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