DOMINANT ANGLE
Rome sees the United Russia party's victory as an election without real opposition, marred by over a thousand cyberattacks and overshadowed by the largest-ever drone attack by Ukraine on Moscow.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
La Repubblica puts Russia united at over 57% of the votes after an initial exit poll of 49.4% relayed by Ansa and Adnkronos, a score "practically identical to that of 2021"
- 02
The Central Electoral Commission, headed by Ella Pamfilova, denounces over a thousand DDoS attacks against electoral infrastructure
- 03
The Russian Ministry of Defense reports 1,110 drones launched over 19 regions, and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin mentions 1,600 drones intercepted, including 450 targeting the capital
ANALYSIS
Rome, September 21, 2026. The Italian press is reporting on a dual event that occurred over the same weekend: the re-election of United Russia to the State Duma and the largest drone offensive ever launched by Ukraine against Russian territory. According to La Repubblica, Vladimir Putin's party exceeded "over 57% of the votes" after three days of voting, consolidating its constitutional majority in the lower house - a result that the newspaper believes will be presented by "the tsar" as confirmation of support for his government and the war in Ukraine. The first exit polls, relayed by Ansa and Adnkronos, initially gave 49.4% of the votes, a score "almost identical to that of 2021", far ahead of the Communist Party (14.2%) and the nationalist LDPR party (10.7%).
The Central Electoral Commission, chaired by Ella Pamfilova, denounced "over a thousand DDoS attacks" targeting electoral infrastructure from Friday night to Saturday, without preventing, according to La Repubblica, the functioning of the vote. On the same day, the newspaper mentioned an "American turn" with Washington giving the green light to missile sales to Kiev. Adnkronos also noted an increase in participation, with 52.6% in the middle of Sunday afternoon compared to 51.7% in 2021. For opposition figure Ilya Yashin, who was imprisoned from 2022 to 2024 and is the founder of the Solidarnost movement, this is not an election but "special electoral operations" that, in his opinion, prolong the war and announce a new mobilization.
The last day of voting coincided with what the Russian Ministry of Defense presents as the largest Ukrainian drone attack ever carried out: 1,110 devices launched against 19 regions, according to Moscow, with 1,600 drones intercepted in total, including 450 targeting the capital, according to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who denounced an unprecedented attempt to "disrupt" the vote. The Kapotnya refinery was hit, resulting in two deaths and around twenty injuries, including three children. On the Ukrainian side, Ansa also reported the death of a 71-year-old priest in Kherson, killed by a Russian drone that targeted a monastery. Kiev, through the voice of Minister Andrii Sybiha, hailed a "burning day". In the evening, Volodymyr Zelensky announced an upcoming meeting with Donald Trump in New York, citing a "favorable diplomatic moment".
SOURCES (3)
- AdnkronosMEDIUM
