Overview
- Voting is currently underway across Russia and in Moscow-annexed Ukrainian areas with ballots being cast under heavy official oversight.
- The Supreme Court disqualified the liberal, anti-war party Jabloko and some individual candidates, further narrowing the field of contesting voices.
- Video from the occupied Donbass shows voters supervised by armed soldiers, a practice that raises questions about the freedom and legality of participation in those territories.
- The war has driven everyday strains that affect turnout and mood, including fuel shortages, restricted internet access, rising insurance costs and the spread of Ukrainian drone strikes that have prompted some residents to leave the country.
- Opposition groups remain split over tactics—some urging tactical voting and others calling for invalid ballots—which reduces coordinated pressure on United Russia that is widely expected to retain dominance.