United Russia Leads Russia Election as Ukraine Drones Hit Moscow

Russia’s ruling United Russia party was headed for a comfortable victory in the country’s parliamentary election, with partial official results showing it securing about 57.5% of the vote. President Vladimir Putin has framed the election as a measure of support for his policies and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The vote is Russia’s first parliamentary election since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. United Russia’s main rivals, including the Communist Party, LDPR, New People and Just Russia, were far behind but remained positioned to gain seats in the 450-member State Duma.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of the Security Council, welcomed United Russia’s performance, saying voters had demonstrated continued trust in the party. Turnout stood at nearly 57% by Sunday evening, according to election officials.

The election’s final day was overshadowed by a major Ukrainian drone assault targeting Moscow and other Russian regions. Russian officials described it as the largest drone attack on the capital since the war began. The strikes caused deaths and damage, including at Moscow’s oil refinery.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin accused Ukraine of attempting to disrupt voting. Russian authorities also reported cyberattacks targeting election infrastructure, although officials said the voting process largely continued as planned.

The election took place amid significant restrictions on political opposition. Anti-war candidates faced exclusions, while the liberal Yabloko party’s federal list was barred from participating. Critics and opposition figures have questioned whether the election provides a reliable measure of public opinion, while the Kremlin argues that political unity is necessary during wartime.

Ukraine has rejected the election as illegitimate, particularly voting conducted in Russian-held Ukrainian territories. Meanwhile, the Kremlin is expected to point to United Russia’s result as evidence of continued domestic support for its political direction during the prolonged conflict.