THE ELECTION RESULTS ARE IN...
According to official accounts of the latest State Duma elections, which took place from September 18th to the 20th, Russia's ruling "United Russia" party won about 58 percent of the vote, taking 355 of the 450 seats in the lower house of Russia's partiament. The results are a resounding victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose political faction will now control about 80 percent of the Duma and hold a record number of seats. The consequences of United Russia's victory are practical as well; its retention of power will allow it to pass laws and initiate amendments to the constitution without forming coalitions with other parties.
Four other parties also won parliamentary seats. Russia’s Communist party took 13.81 percent of the vote, the ultra-nationalist LDPR took 8.98 percent, the New People party took 7.96 percent, and the Just Russia party took just over five percent. The election was the first since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and President Putin pushed the vote as a test of support for his war. (Reuters, September 21, 2026)
[EDITORS' NOTE: As a result of Moscow's internal and external propaganda needs, it is widely understood that the results of Russia "elections" are politically determined ahead of any voting.]
...BUT DID PUTIN'S PARTY REALLY WIN?
While the Kremlin is claiming a landslide victory, outside observers are not so sure. Specifically, statistical analysis conducted by Novaya Gazeta Europe suggests that the party actually only received around 34 percent of votes. Two independent electoral experts reviewed the calculations, which were based on a method to detect ballot stuffing, and agreed with the paper's calculations. (Novaya Gazeta Europe, September 22, 2026)
RUSSIANS ABROAD SAY NO...
Meanwhile, Russians outside the country took a very different stance. Two independent exit polls of Russians voting at embassies and consulates in 22 countries indicate that United Russia received as little as 2.8 percent of the overall vote, while the New People party received around 45 percent. (Euronews, September 22, 2026)
[EDITORS' NOTE: Votes cast abroad make up only a small portion of total votes. Nevertheless, the repudiation of United Russia by Russian citizens located abroad is significant for at least two reasons. First, it constitutes a rejection of Putin's war on Ukraine. Second, it backs up accusations that election results within the country have been rigged.]
...WHILE UKRAINE HITS MOSCOW
Ukraine, too, was able to communicate its displeasure. On Sunday, September 20th, the final day of the Duma elections, Muscovites awoke to hundreds of Ukrainian drones flying overhead and striking an oil refinery and a warehouse in Moscow. Two people were killed and 20 wounded during the attack. The timing was clearly intended to make the Russian population feel the consequences of the war. Ukraine's long-range strike campaign has already created serious gas shortages across Russia, with many gas stations closed due to lack of supply. (New York Times, September 20, 2026)