Pro-Putin's ruling United Russia party has secured a decisive victory in the national parliamentary elections also maintaining its constitutional majority with nearly 80% of the State Duma seats. Meanwhile the anti-war Yabloko party managed to gain a small regional foothold.
President Vladimir Putin framed the three-day election the first since Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in 2022 as a crucial test of public support for the war. Despite heavy Ukrainian drone attacks and cyber disruptions, Central Electoral Commission Chair Ella Pamfilova reported a record 59.3% voter turnout.
With over 95% of the votes counted the United Russia secured 57.83% an increase from the previous election. The Communists, the ultra-nationalist LDPR and the New People party also secured parliamentary seats. Yabloko, Russia’s only registered anti-war party failed to win national representation but successfully entered the regional parliament in Novgorod.
The elections which also included regional voting in the occupied Ukrainian territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia faced severe international backlash. The European Union strongly condemned the elections in these annexed regions also calling them a blatant violation of international law and Ukraine's sovereignty.
In a formal statement, the EU declared it would "never recognize" the results from the occupied territories and warned of impending sanctions against those involved in organizing the votes. The 27-member bloc also criticized Moscow for actively suppressing democratic processes, barring opposition candidates and refusing to invite international observers.
As the political landscape in Russia solidifies under Putin’s control, the EU continues to demand a full and immediate ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine.
