PoliticsPutin consolidates grip on Russia as 49 Ukraine war veterans elected to parliament

United Russia won a record 355 of the State Duma’s 450 seats in a tightly controlled and widely criticised election, further strengthening Vladimir Putin’s hold on power. Officials said 49 newly elected deputies had served in the war against Ukraine. Western governments called voting in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine a sham.

Russia electionUnited RussiaVladimir PutinUkraine war

TThe Guardian★★★★☆2026-09-21 13:40Original