Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Putin’s United Russia Wins Wartime Election, Yabloko Gains Foothold
Russia held a three-day election for its national parliament during the war in Ukraine.
United Russia, the party led by supporters of President Vladimir Putin, won 57.83% of the counted votes.
It was expected to receive 355 of the 450 seats in the State Duma.
This would give it enough seats to keep its constitutional majority.
Officials said 59.3% of eligible voters took part and called the election clean.
Opposition activists said the election was unfair and manipulated.
Yabloko, an anti-war party, did not win any national seats.
However, it appeared to win a small number of seats in the Novgorod regional parliament.
United Russia won 57.83% of the vote after more than 95% was counted, up from 49.8% in 2021.
The party was projected to win 355 of the State Duma’s 450 seats, surpassing its previous record of 343.
The three-day election was the first parliamentary vote since Russia launched its full-scale military campaign in Ukraine in 2022.
Election officials reported 59.3% turnout and called the vote clean, while opposition activists alleged widespread rigging.
Anti-war Yabloko won no national seats but appeared to clear the 5% threshold in Novgorod’s regional parliament.
- Who
- United Russia won the election; President Vladimir Putin presented it as a test of support for the war, while Yabloko sought representation.
- What
- United Russia won 57.83% of the vote and was projected to receive 355 of 450 State Duma seats.
- When
- Near-complete results were announced on Monday after more than 95% of votes had been counted.
- Where
- The election took place across Russia, including the State Duma and regional contests; Yabloko appeared to enter the Novgorod regional parliament.
- Why
- Putin and other officials presented the election as evidence of national unity and support during the war in Ukraine.
Official and Pro-Government View
Opposition and Critical View
Election integrity
Official and Pro-Government View
The Central Electoral Commission called the election clean and said voting proceeded despite a Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow.
Opposition and Critical View
Opposition activists in exile alleged widespread rigging, while critics said the tightly controlled system does not permit genuine dissent.
Meaning of the result
Official and Pro-Government View
Putin and other officials presented the result as evidence of national unity and public support during the war in Ukraine.
Opposition and Critical View
Critics said many Yabloko candidates were barred and that opposition parties critical of Putin were absent from the national ballot.
Political representation
Official and Pro-Government View
United Russia retained a constitutional majority, while several other parties gained parliamentary representation.
Opposition and Critical View
Yabloko, described as Russia’s only registered anti-war party, won no national seats and achieved only a possible small regional foothold in Novgorod.
- Winning party
- United Russia
- Vote share
- 57.83%, compared with 49.8% in 2021
- Projected seats
- 355 of 450 State Duma seats
- Turnout
- 59.3%, according to the Central Electoral Commission
- Previous record
- United Russia’s projected total exceeds its 2016 record of 343 seats
- Yabloko result
- No national seats; the party appeared to clear the 5% threshold in Novgorod by about one percentage point
- Other parties
- The Communists received 13.81%, LDPR 8.98%, and New People 7.96%; reports differed on whether Just Russia crossed the 5% threshold
