Russia’s pro-Putin party claims victory in wartime election

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Russia’s parliamentary elections have emerged as the most consequential global breaking story, with the Kremlin-aligned United Russia party poised to secure a dominant majority despite the backdrop of war, cyberattacks and intensifying Ukrainian drone strikes against Moscow and other targets.[10][14] State media in Russia report that United Russia has won a large majority, reinforcing President Vladimir Putin’s control over the legislature at a time when the conflict with Ukraine has spilled further into Russian territory via hundreds of drones launched toward Moscow during the final days of voting.[4][8][10][14] Kyiv has denounced the inclusion of annexed Ukrainian regions in these elections as illegitimate, arguing that Russia is using occupied territories to legitimize its wartime gains and entrench its authority.[12][14] The combination of a contested electoral process, ongoing battlefield escalation, and expanding cross-border strikes raises significant concerns about the trajectory of the war, regional security, and the future of international efforts to constrain Russia’s actions.

Sources: Reuters, RTÉ, TheGuardian, BBC, NPR