United Russia wins record 355 seats as Yabloko enters regional parliament

United Russia wins record 355 seats as Yabloko enters regional parliament

United Russia secured a record 355 seats in the State Duma on 21 September, winning 57. 8% of the vote, while the anti-war Yabloko party cleared the 5% threshold in a single regional legislature, Russian election officials said. The September 18-20 parliamentary election was conducted across Russia, including the annexed Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, a move denounced by Kyiv. The election commission reported cyber attacks on the online voting platform and authorities noted drone and missile strikes on Moscow, but said voting proceeded largely uninterrupted.

Exiled Russians cast ballots in cities such as Milwaukee, and officials reported turnout of 59. 3%, the highest since 2011. Analysts noted that the openly anti-war Yabloko party was removed from the party list and other candidates were disqualified, while President Vladimir Putin placed hundreds of war veterans among the candidates.

Actors

United Russia party Communist Party of the Russian Federation LDPR A Just Russia New People Yabloko President Vladimir Putin Ora John Reuter Levada Center Vyorstka

Locations

Russia Moscow, Russia Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Verdict: Partial Confidence: 64% Claims: 2
At a glance

The claim that Russia's State Duma vote occurred on September 19, 2026, for the first time in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions seized from Ukraine was partially confirmed. The claim that Kyiv and international officials denounced the September 19, 2026 vote in these regions as illegal had insufficient evidence.

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This section contains an automated verification of claims against external sources and may contain inaccuracies.

Articles

September 21, 2026
2 total
United Russia secures record 355 seats in Duma as Yabloko gains lone regional foothold
United Russia secures record 355 seats in Duma as Yabloko gains lone regional foothold

Reuters • 21 Sep 14:09

United Russia won 57.8% of the vote, securing 355 of 450 seats in Russia's parliament, while the anti-war Yabloko party cleared the 5% threshold in one regional legislature.

Credibility 73% Manip. 12% Center
United Russia Wins 58% in State Duma Election Amid Record Turnout
United Russia Wins 58% in State Duma Election Amid Record Turnout

Meduza • 21 Sep 13:39

United Russia secured about 58% of the vote in Russia's State Duma election, with turnout reported at 59.3%, the highest since 2011. Officials said the results were achieved through extensive mobilization efforts.

Credibility 68% Manip. 32% Center
September 20, 2026
3 total
United Russia Leads Russian Parliamentary Vote Amid Drone Strikes
United Russia Leads Russian Parliamentary Vote Amid Drone Strikes

CNBC • 20 Sep 20:10

Partial results show United Russia ahead with about 57% of the vote in Russia's parliamentary election, while authorities report drone and missile attacks on Moscow and claim the voting process remained largely uninterrupted.

Credibility 72% Manip. 32% Center
United Russia Leads Russian Parliamentary Vote as Turnout Hits 56.7%
United Russia Leads Russian Parliamentary Vote as Turnout Hits 56.7%

CNN • 20 Sep 18:01

Preliminary results show United Russia ahead with 57.5% of the vote in Russia's parliamentary election, while turnout reached 56.7% amid ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

Credibility 73% Manip. 32% Center
Exiled Russians vote in overseas polls to protest Putin and the Ukraine war
Exiled Russians vote in overseas polls to protest Putin and the Ukraine war

Reuters • 20 Sep 15:51

Russians living abroad cast ballots in the final day of Russia's parliamentary election, viewing the act as symbolic opposition to President Vladimir Putin and the conflict in Ukraine.

Credibility 77% Manip. 9% Center
September 19, 2026
2 total
Russian officials say online voting system attacked during parliamentary election
Russian officials say online voting system attacked during parliamentary election

Reuters • 19 Sep 11:30

Russia's election commission reported cyber attacks on Moscow's online voting platform and communication lines in the Far East on the second day of the September 18-20 parliamentary vote, saying the incidents were being repelled.

Credibility 77% Manip. 12% Center
Russia includes annexed Ukrainian territories in parliamentary election
Russia includes annexed Ukrainian territories in parliamentary election

NPR • 19 Sep 06:39

Russia's State Duma vote will be held for the first time in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions seized from Ukraine, a move denounced by Kyiv and international officials as illegal.

Credibility 78% Manip. 12% Center
September 18, 2026
4 total
Russia's parliamentary vote faces limited choices as anti-war parties are barred
Russia's parliamentary vote faces limited choices as anti-war parties are barred

politico.eu • 18 Sep 17:54

Russia's first parliamentary election since the 2022 invasion sees the sole openly anti-war party removed from the ballot, prompting opposition figures to urge voters to support neutral candidates despite concerns the vote legitimises President Putin's war.

Credibility 71% Manip. 46% Left
Russia holds three-day parliamentary election with only pro-Kremlin parties on the ballot
Russia holds three-day parliamentary election with only pro-Kremlin parties on the ballot

Euronews • 18 Sep 11:03

Russia’s September 18-20 election, which will fill all 450 State Duma seats and 11 regional governorships, features only parties that support President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine, after the anti-war Yabloko party was barred.

Credibility 72% Manip. 46% Left
Russia conducts State Duma vote in occupied Ukrainian regions without OSCE monitoring
Russia conducts State Duma vote in occupied Ukrainian regions without OSCE monitoring

Fox News • 18 Sep 10:00

Russia began voting for its lower house of parliament in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions it occupies, while the OSCE was not invited to observe, prompting criticism from international officials.

Credibility 68% Manip. 35% Center
Putin pushes war veterans into parliament ahead of Russian elections
Putin pushes war veterans into parliament ahead of Russian elections

Newsweek • 18 Sep 09:22

Russia's upcoming parliamentary vote will see hundreds of candidates with Ukraine war experience, reflecting President Putin's plan to embed veterans in the political elite and secure support for the conflict.

Credibility 72% Manip. 32% Center
September 17, 2026
1 total
Russia heads to parliamentary vote amid growing public anxiety over war
Russia heads to parliamentary vote amid growing public anxiety over war

dw.com • 17 Sep 22:35

A poll shows rising war fatigue and concern among Russians as the country prepares for its first State Duma election since the conflict began, with opposition groups urging voters to express dissent.

Credibility 72% Manip. 12% Center
September 16, 2026
2 total
United Russia expected to secure parliamentary majority in 2026 elections amid concerns over vote manipulation
United Russia expected to secure parliamentary majority in 2026 elections amid concerns over vote manipulation

The Conversation • 16 Sep 22:07

Russia's parliamentary election scheduled for Sept. 18-20, 2026 is likely to deliver a two-thirds majority for United Russia, with analysts pointing to extensive state control of the voting process and limited genuine opposition.

Credibility 72% Manip. 34% Center
Russia's upcoming Duma vote faces shrinking candidate pool and limited competition
Russia's upcoming Duma vote faces shrinking candidate pool and limited competition

The Moscow Times • 16 Sep 16:03

Experts say Russia's September 18-20 State Duma election will be dominated by United Russia, with fewer parties and candidates able to run and growing restrictions on opposition participation.

Credibility 72% Manip. 12% Center