Vladimir Putin’s ruling United Russia party has secured a large majority in Russia’s parliamentary elections, capturing 57.5 percent of the vote after just over 71 percent of ballots were counted, according to results published by state media. The vote for the State Duma lower house took place alongside intense security challenges, including a massive wave of Ukrainian drone strikes and cyberattacks against election infrastructure.
Parliamentary Election Results and State Duma Majority
According to figures reported by Russian news agencies, the ruling United Russia party holds a commanding lead in the State Duma elections. The Communist Party and LDPR nationalists trailed behind, winning 14 percent and 8.7 percent of the vote respectively, based on results from just over 71 percent of counted ballots. State agency TASS projects that United Russia is on course to retain its two-thirds majority across the 450 seats in the chamber, which grants the party the power to amend the constitution. An exit poll published by a state-run pollster estimated United Russia’s share at 49.4 percent, close to the same amount it achieved in the previous election.
This election marks the first time voters have gone to the polls in all State Duma seats since Moscow launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Balloting also extended into Ukrainian territories occupied and annexed by Russia. Turnout could offer a barometer of public sentiment regarding Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. Ahead of the vote, Vladimir Putin urged citizens to participate, describing the election as a show of support for Moscow’s troops and an “answer to those who want to weaken Russia”.
Escalating Drone Strikes and Military Retaliation
The final day of voting was disrupted by the largest Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow since the start of the war. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that approximately 1,600 drones were deployed by Ukraine, with 450 aimed directly at the capital. The bombardment killed two people—a 44-year-old woman and an elderly man—in separate locations, according to Moscow regional Governor Andrey Vorobyov. A drone crash also sparked a fire in a 21-storey building on the outskirts of Moscow, forcing the evacuation of 400 residents. Images from the scene showed a gaping hole in the multi-storey building alongside thick black smoke billowing from an oil refinery set ablaze by the strikes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the operation, stating that long-range responses had a very significant impact in the Moscow region. In response to the strikes, the Russian defence ministry accused Kyiv of attempting to disrupt the democratic will of Russian citizens and vowed to intensify high-accuracy military strikes against targets in Kyiv. Meanwhile, diplomatic channels remained active as President Zelensky spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump, who had recently urged Kyiv to halt attacks on Russian refineries ahead of an anticipated meeting between the two leaders in New York.
Voter Suppression Claims and Opposition Protests
The electoral process unfolded amid strict political controls. Russia’s Supreme Court removed the anti-war Yabloko party from the federal ballot weeks before the election, barring any party opposed to the war from running, although some Yabloko candidates remained on single-mandate ballots. The Kremlin’s chief political opponents remain in exile, and Alexei Navalny, Putin’s main rival, died in an Arctic prison in 2024. In response, Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, called on anti-war citizens to engage in protest voting by casting ballots at noon on Sunday, echoing a tactic used during the 2024 presidential election. Outside Russian embassy buildings in Berlin and London, dozens of opposition supporters gathered to protest the vote, according to AFP reporters.
Cyberattacks Target Electoral Infrastructure
In addition to physical military strikes, Russia’s electoral systems faced severe digital assaults. Ella Pamfilova, chair of Russia’s Central Election Commission, reported that election infrastructure experienced a wave of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Pamfilova stated that more than 1,000 waves of DDoS attacks were launched against systems supporting the electoral process, utilizing artificial intelligence tools deployed by highly professional, well-coordinated groups. She did not name the perpetrators of the cyberattacks. Compounding the technical disruptions, Pamfilova noted that saboteurs severed communication lines in Russia’s far east in an effort to obstruct the voting process.
Did you know?
The State Duma consists of 450 seats, and maintaining a two-thirds majority allows the ruling United Russia party to amend the constitution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Russian parliamentary elections?
According to results published by state media after counting just over 71 percent of ballots, Vladimir Putin’s ruling United Russia party won 57.5 percent of the vote, securing a projected two-thirds majority in the State Duma.
How did the conflict with Ukraine affect the election?
The election coincided with the largest Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow since the war began, involving roughly 1,600 drones that killed two people and hit an oil refinery, prompting Russian vows to intensify strikes on Kyiv.
Were anti-war parties allowed to participate?
No party opposed to the war was permitted to run on a federal list. Russia’s Supreme Court removed the liberal Yabloko party from the ballot weeks prior to the vote.
What technical challenges did the election face?
Russia’s Central Election Commission reported over 1,000 waves of DDoS cyberattacks targeting election infrastructure, alongside reports of severed communication lines in the country’s far east.
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