Polls close in Russian wartime election with ruling party set to dominate
Summary
Russia held parliamentary elections during the ongoing war with Ukraine, with the ruling United Russia party expected to win. Voting included some Ukrainian regions annexed by Russia, but these votes are condemned by Ukraine and many international groups as illegal.Key Facts
- Polls closed in Russia’s first parliamentary election since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
- The ruling United Russia party is expected to keep its strong majority in the State Duma (Russia’s lower house).
- The election covered 111 million eligible voters, including residents of four Ukrainian regions recently annexed by Russia and Crimea.
- Ukraine and the European Union say the voting in annexed Ukrainian areas breaks international law and should not be recognized.
- Drone attacks by Ukraine occurred during voting days, killing at least five people, including an election official.
- Russian authorities reported some cyber and communication attacks but said the voting mostly went smoothly.
- Genuine opposition parties were blocked or suppressed; the only anti-war party was removed from the ballot.
- Russia did not invite election observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), accusing it of bias.
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