Russia's ruling United Russia party projected to win parliamentary election amid Ukraine drone attacks on Moscow
Exit polls show United Russia leading with 57.5% of the vote in a tightly controlled parliamentary election
In Brief
- •Exit polls show United Russia leading with 57.5% of the vote in a tightly controlled parliamentary election
- •Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on Moscow on election day, killing three people in the Moscow region and two in Kherson region, including an election official
- •Russian officials claim the attack aimed to disrupt the vote; Moscow mayor said the attack was repelled
- •Russia's Defence Ministry reports downing nearly 2,000 Ukrainian drones and 8 cruise missiles in the last 24 hours and plans to intensify strikes on Ukraine
Why It Matters
The parliamentary election is being used by President Vladimir Putin’s regime as a barometer of domestic support for the ongoing war in Ukraine. The drone attacks on Moscow during the vote underscore the continued volatility of the conflict and raise concerns about the security of Russia’s political processes. The outcome will likely be leveraged by the Kremlin to legitimize its policies and to rally public backing for further military actions.
Key Details
- United Russia Vote Share
- 57.5%
- Drone Attack Casualties
- 5 (3 in Moscow region, 2 in Kherson region)
- Date of Attack
- 2026-09-20
- Defence Ministry Drone Interceptions
- nearly 2,000
- Cruise Missiles Downed
- 8
- Election Date
- 2026-09-20
Context & Background
The election marks the first State Duma vote since Russia launched its full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and is being used by the Kremlin to gauge public support for the war.
Original Reporting & Sources
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