Main Kremlin party in total control of first Russia elections since start of Ukraine war

Main Kremlin party in total control of first Russia elections since start of Ukraine war With 58% of the precincts counted, United Russia had nearly 58% of the vote for the 225 deputies apportioned by party lists, according to Russia’s Central Election Commission Early results from Russia’s first parliamentary election since the start of the Ukraine war has showed the main Kremlin party United Russia dominating the vote. The tightly controlled balloting was virtually devoid of opposition to President Vladimir Putin’s policies. The vote began on Friday for 111 million eligible voters and ended on Sunday. The balloting included residents of four Ukrainian regions which Moscow illegally annexed after the war began, but does not fully control, as well as those in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. Kyiv has denounced the move as illegal and the European Union described it as a “blatant violation of international law”. With 58% of the precincts counted, United Russia had nearly 58% of the vote for the 225 deputies apportioned by party lists, according to Russia’s Central Election Commission. As of late Sunday, the turnout stood at a little under 57%, Russia’s Central Election Commission said. Another 225 members will be chosen in single-seat races and United Russia was poised to win most of those. The election’s last day came against a backdrop of a major wave of Ukrainian attacks. Russia’s Defense Ministry said Sunday that its forces shot down a total of 1,110 Ukrainian drones across Russia, as well as over the annexed Crimea and the Black Sea. Two people were killed and 20 wounded across the wider Moscow region, with reports emerging that Putin may be facing a mass exodus from his people amid the latest round of Ukrainian drone strikes. The Kremlin has sought the parliamentary election — the first since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 — to showcase popular support for the war and legitimize its action. It has sought to avoid political risks by stamping out any dissent. A state media campaign and tight control over the election in the absence of genuine opposition all but assure the Kremlin will keep tight control of Russian politics.