Explainer-How Putin may leverage predictable outcome of Russia's elections

Russia held its parliamentary election from September 18 to 20, 2026, marking the first such vote since President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. On September 25, Russian authorities released the final results, confirming that the ruling United Russia party secured a record-high three-fourths majority in the lower house (State Duma) with 349 seats out of 450. The Communist Party followed with 37 seats, and other parties aligned with Putin's wishes also won representation.

Early voting took place in occupied Ukrainian territories under Russian control, despite warnings from Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) that participating could be a criminal offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison. On election day, Moscow faced an embarrassing reminder of the ongoing war when Kyiv struck an oil refinery near the capital, causing smoke over the city.

The Kremlin ensured dominance through restrictions on genuine opposition and anti-war candidates; most were barred from running. Notably, 46 veterans of Russia's war in Ukraine secured seats in the new parliament, making up over 10% of the Duma—a record high for post-Soviet Russia. This outcome was largely anticipated due to strict control over the electoral process and limited opposition presence. Despite these efforts, the smoke over Moscow highlighted vulnerabilities in Putin’s image as an untouchable ruler. Overall voter turnout reached nearly 60%, marking the highest participation rate in over a decade. However, the election lacked genuine competitive choice, underscoring the authoritarian nature of Russia's political system under Putin's rule.