Russia's first parliamentary election since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine drew to a close on Sunday, September 20. The election was set to deliver another resounding victory for United Russia, President Vladimir Putin's ruling party. However, the voting process was marred by massive Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow. Ella Pamfilova, head of Russia's Central Election Commission, said the attacks were intended to derail voting for the new State Duma, the lower house of parliament.
The drone attacks on Moscow were described as the "largest attack by enemy drones on Moscow" by Moscow Mayor, Sergei Sobyanin. According to Sobyanin, 450 drones heading for the capital were intercepted, but some drones reached the grounds of a Moscow oil refinery, causing fires and dark smoke. At least three people were killed in the wider Moscow region, while regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov said at least 20 people were injured in Ukrainian attacks. The attacks also resulted in fires breaking out in several locations, residential buildings being damaged, and hundreds of people being evacuated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the attacks on the Moscow region, saying one of Russia's key oil industry facilities and a logistics site had been hit. Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had used several types of weapons, including drones and Flamingo and Pelican missiles. The Pelican missile, developed by Ukrainian company Fire Point, has a range of up to 200 kilometres. If confirmed, it would be the first known use of the weapon.
The election, which took place over three days from Friday to Sunday, saw more than 110 million Russians eligible to vote. Turnout had exceeded 50% by early Sunday afternoon, according to the Central Election Commission. Official turnout in the previous parliamentary election in 2021 was 51.7%. The first results were expected after the last polling stations closed at 8 pm (1800 GMT) in the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad.
The Kremlin-loyal United Russia party was expected to secure a clear victory in the election. All 10 parties on the ballot are considered close to the Kremlin and supportive of Putin's invasion of Ukraine. However, Russian elections have long been criticized as neither free nor fair. The anti-war Yabloko party, which was excluded from the election, and other groups reported alleged violations from the first day of voting.
Despite protests from Kiev, voting was held in Russian-controlled parts of the annexed Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson. Voting also took place in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. Ukraine does not recognize the results, while the international community regards the holding of elections in occupied Ukrainian territory as a violation of international law.
The election results are expected to be announced soon, with the United Russia party likely to secure a clear victory. The party's victory would further solidify Putin's grip on power in Russia. The international community has expressed concerns about the election process, citing allegations of vote rigging and pressure on voters. The outcome of the election is likely to have significant implications for Russia's relations with Ukraine and the West.
Key points
- The Russian parliamentary election was held amid massive Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow.
- The election was set to deliver another resounding victory for United Russia, President Vladimir Putin's ruling party.
- The international community regards the holding of elections in occupied Ukrainian territory as a violation of international law.
