Polls close in Russian wartime election with ruling party set to dominate
Russia's ruling United Russia party is leading in parliamentary elections held during the ongoing war in Ukraine. The vote was marked by significant drone attacks and cyber interference, with the Kremlin aiming to use the results to demonstrate domestic support for the conflict.
Why it matters
The election results are being used as a geopolitical tool to signal internal stability and public backing for the war effort despite international pressure.
The Kremlin wants the elections to showcase popular support for the war in Ukraine and legitimise its action.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Members of a local electoral commission empty a ballot box before counting votes in the Russian town of Podolsk, near Moscow, on September 20, 2026 [Ramil Sitdikov/Reuters] By Al Jazeera Staff , AFP , Reuters and The Associated Press Published On 20 Sep 2026 20 Sep 2026 The ruling United Russia party is on course to win the country’s first wartime parliamentary elections, according to early returns from the tightly controlled vote, which was marked by cyberattacks and a barrage of Ukrainian drone attacks.
The Kremlin wants the elections, the first parliamentary vote since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, to showcase popular support for the war and legitimise its action.
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