Stories
Putin Holds Elections in Ukrainian Cities, Zelensky Fumes as Trends Show Putin's Party Leading.
N
News18•21-09-2026, 13:23
Putin Holds Elections in Ukrainian Cities, Zelensky Fumes as Trends Show Putin's Party Leading.
- •Russia held parliamentary elections for the first time since the Ukraine invasion, with Putin's United Russia party taking a clear lead.
- •Elections were also conducted in Russian-controlled Ukrainian territories like Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea, deemed illegal by Ukraine.
- •Ukrainian President Zelensky rejects these elections, as Ukraine considers Russia's claims over these territories illegitimate.
- •On the final day of voting, Ukraine launched drone attacks on Russia, causing 400 flight cancellations in Moscow and damaging an oil refinery.
- •The strong performance of the United Russia party is expected to further solidify Putin's domestic power, with final results due by September 25.
Key Questions Answered
After counting votes from about 58 percent of polling stations, President Vladimir Putin's ruling United Russia party received approximately 58 percent of the votes and maintained a clear lead.
Voting for the Russian parliament was conducted in Donetsk, Luhansk, parts of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea, which are viewed by Ukraine as illegally annexed territories.
The official results of the Russian elections are expected to be released by September 25.
