The election, the first Duma poll since Moscow launched its full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, will determine the composition of the 450‑seat lower house of parliament and is expected to leave the pro‑Putin United Russia party in firm control of the legislature.
Authorities have barred most anti‑war candidates after the Supreme Court ruled that the liberal Yabloko party, which advocates a ceasefire, violated electoral rules, although a handful of Yabloko nominees continue to run in individual constituencies.
In a televised address ahead of the vote, Putin urged citizens to cast their ballots, saying each vote would help secure Russia’s victory in Ukraine and signal the nation’s resolve against what the Kremlin describes as dangerous actions by Ukrainian intelligence and other hostile forces seeking to stir unrest inside Russia.
The Kremlin has stressed that national unity is essential as opinion polls indicate growing anxiety among Russians over the war’s impact on daily life, while the economy grapples with fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian drone strikes, high interest rates, a labour crunch and the weight of Western sanctions.
Initial and partial results are slated to start flowing at 6 p.m. on Sunday, with near‑complete tallies expected on Monday, providing the authorities with a gauge of public war weariness as the country endures prolonged conflict and economic strain.