DOMINANT ANGLE
Moscow claims a double victory, that of a united Russia at the polls and that of its air defense, presented as proof that the Ukrainian attack aimed at "disrupting" the vote has failed.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
According to the CEC, United Russia obtains 57.19% of the vote after 36.87% of the protocols have been counted, a score that rises to 57.87% after 87.91% of the ballots have been counted (Sputnik).
- 02
Turnout stands at 56.66%, a level the CEC presents as higher than in 1993, 2003, 2016, and 2021.
- 03
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reports that over 1,600 drones have been intercepted since Saturday, including 450 targeting Moscow, and the Investigative Committee has opened a terrorism case (Article 205) after the fire at the Kapotnya refinery.
ANALYSIS
Moscow, September 21, 2026. The legislative election ended on Sunday evening with a double announcement that the authorities present as a joint success: that of the polls and that of the air defense. According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), United Russia collected 57.19% of the votes after counting 36.87% of the protocols, a score increased to 57.87% on Monday morning after 87.91% of the ballots were counted, according to Sputnik. The KPRF follows with 13.85%, the LDPR with 9.16%, New People with 8.01%. Turnout reached 56.66%, a level that the CEC presents as higher than that of 1993 (54.7%), 2003 (55.75%), 2016 (47.88%) and 2021 (51.72%).
This three-day vote, the first since the start of the "special military operation" in Ukraine, took place under a drone attack that Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described as "the most massive" ever launched against the capital: more than 1,600 devices intercepted since Saturday, including 450 "on approach to Moscow". "This unprecedented attack was clearly planned to disrupt the elections. The adversary failed," he said. The Ministry of Defense mentions 1,951 drones and eight Flamingo cruise missiles destroyed. Drones reached the Moscow refinery in Kapotnya, which processed 11.6 million tons of oil in 2024, and a residential building was hit. In the Moscow region, two people died, in Sofyino and Orekhovo-Zuyevo, according to Governor Andrey Vorobyov, and 400 residents of a building in Ramenskoye, including 70 children, were evacuated. The Investigative Committee opened a terrorism case based on Article 205 of the Criminal Code.
Deputy Foreign Minister Evgeny Ivanov assures that "all attempts" to disrupt voting abroad, including in the embassies of Paris, Delhi or Tallinn, have "failed", despite cyberattacks that CEC Chairwoman Ella Pamfilova says were recorded against electronic voting systems. More than 5.8 million voters voted online. In Paris, the Kommersant correspondent describes a calm atmosphere at the consulate, between international observers and dual nationals. Kyiv has not commented on the strikes; both sides claim not to be targeting civilians.
SOURCES (6)
- Moscow TimesMEDIUM
- SputnikMEDIUM
- RIA NovostiMEDIUM
