Putin casts parliamentary election as barometer of support for war, urges Russians to vote
The tightly controlled vote excludes the main anti-war party and is expected to keep United Russia’s dominance as voters cast ballots over three days.
- Russia's three-day State Duma elections began Friday in the Far East, with President Vladimir Putin framing the vote as a barometer of support for the war in Ukraine and urging Russians to vote.
- Nearly five years into the invasion, Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries and warehouses brought the conflict home to ordinary Russians, exacerbating economic stagnation as the government raised taxes and increased borrowing to manage a widening deficit.
- Independent Levada Center polling showed Putin's approval at 76% in August, down from 87% in September 2025, while chief economist Andrei Klepach of VEB.RF bank warned of social crisis, stating the war of attrition is unsustainable.
- United Russia, holding 310 of 450 Duma seats, is positioned to retain overwhelming control, with analyst Mark Galeotti predicting the Kremlin will ensure the party remains absolutely dominant despite allowing results to slip slightly.
- The only anti-war party, Yabloko, was barred from the ballot in August after the Supreme Court cited copyright violations and ties to the 'international LGBT movement,' while jailing party members like deputy Lev Shlosberg for over 11 years for criticizing the war.
276 Articles
276 Articles
What Putin’s war in Ukraine means for Russian elections as polls open
Putin has been facing declining approval ratings, mounting casualties and ‘net-zero’ territorial gains since March this year as polls open today. Experts tell Maira Butt what this could mean for the future of Russia
Russia is holding parliamentary elections from today until Sunday with the expected result, as the strictly controlled process is expected to give victory to the ruling United Russia party. More than 110 million Russians are eligible to vote to elect the 450 members of the Duma, in a contest without a significant political opponent, as the opposition is banned from participating in the elections. Russian President Vladimir Putin's United Russia,…
Russians begin 3 days of voting in a parliamentary election set to cement the Kremlin’s power
Russians on Friday began three days of voting in the country’s first wartime parliamentary election, which features virtually no opposition and is all but certain to secure the Kremlin’s political dominance.
Ottumwa Courier
Chronicle OnlineRussians begin 3 days of voting in a parliamentary election set to cement the Kremlin's power
Russians have begun three days of voting in the country’s first wartime parliamentary election. It's a heavily managed election featuring virtually no opposition in order to secure the Kremlin’s political dominance. The balloting is spread over three days to help…
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