In the first Russian State Duma elections since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, the ruling United Russia Party secured a significant victory, providing President Vladimir Putin with a political foundation to claim public support for the war. However, as military clashes between Ukraine and Russia escalate, diplomatic efforts led by the United States are also underway to seek a resolution.
According to Reuters, preliminary results from the Russian elections released on September 20 indicated that Putin's ruling party, United Russia, garnered 57.5% of the vote. This election is the first State Duma election held since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, drawing considerable attention.
The Central Election Commission of Russia reported a provisional voter turnout of 56.66% over the three days of voting from September 18 to 20, surpassing the turnout of 47.88% in 2016 and 51.72% in 2021, and marking the highest level since 2011, when it was 60.21%.
With the ruling party solidifying its victory, analysts suggest that the election results will serve as a basis for President Putin to assert public support for the Ukraine war and his governance. Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council and former president, praised the United Russia Party's performance as 'dignified,' claiming it reflects the Russian people's continued trust in the government.
Notably, the election coincided with a large-scale drone attack by Ukraine, which struck Russian territory. On the final day of voting, September 20, Ukraine launched what is considered the largest drone attack since the war began, targeting the Russian capital, Moscow.
According to U.S. media outlets like CNN, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that it shot down approximately 2,000 Ukrainian drones and eight cruise missiles aimed at various regions in Russia over the past 24 hours. Of these, around 450 drones were reported to be approaching Moscow. The ministry also announced plans to intensify attacks on Ukrainian military facilities in response.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that some damage occurred at a Moscow oil refinery due to the attacks, and three people were reported dead in the Moscow region. He claimed the attacks were 'clearly planned' to disrupt the elections but asserted that the attackers did not succeed.
On the same day, Russian forces launched a large-scale airstrike against Ukraine, resulting in civilian casualties. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that between the night of September 19 and the early morning of September 20, Russia deployed 138 drones, including Shahed and high-performance jet-engine drones, targeting key areas in Ukraine, leading to at least eight civilian deaths.
As military confrontations intensify, there are ongoing efforts to resume peace negotiations led by the United States.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on social media platform X that he had a phone call with President Trump on September 20 and agreed to meet in New York. He stated, 'A diplomatic momentum is forming,' adding that this meeting could bring about significant changes. He emphasized that the peace process is a top priority and that they are ready to take crucial steps in collaboration with the U.S. team.
President Zelensky is scheduled to visit New York for the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, during which he is expected to meet with President Trump. This meeting comes amid ongoing discussions to resume negotiations between Russia and Ukraine under U.S. mediation, as the U.S. has been urging both sides to de-escalate tensions and return to the negotiating table.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.