Russia's Duma election reveals Kremlin's grip despite war

Russia's Central Election Commission reported that President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party won nearly 58 percent of the vote in the recent Duma election, an increase of about eight percentage points, securing a two-thirds parliamentary majority despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. The election was overshadowed by Ukrainian drone and cyberattacks on Russian territory, and analysts say the official result primarily demonstrates the effectiveness of the regime's manipulation machinery, which uses media control, administrative pressure, and ballot stuffing. Experts also note signs of Kremlin concern, including disputes over whether to postpone the vote and the exclusion of the anti-war Yabloko party. Analysts suggest the Kremlin may now pursue intensified military recruitment without formally declaring a new mobilization, as Russians fear further escalation and repression. The EU condemned the elections, including those held in occupied Ukrainian territories, as a violation of international law.