Russia's ruling United Russia party has retained an overwhelming constitutional supermajority in the State Duma following three days of nationwide parliamentary voting.
Central Election Commission figures released on Monday showed the pro-Kremlin faction securing roughly 58 percent of the vote and 355 seats in the 450-seat legislature. President Vladimir Putin framed the election as a crucial referendum demonstrating public support for the country's military campaign in Ukraine. Independent observers and exiled opposition groups criticized the election process, citing the exclusion of genuine anti-war candidates and reports of voting irregularities.
The voting concluded alongside a large-scale Ukrainian drone offensive that struck targets deep inside Russian territory, including infrastructure around the capital. With its expanded parliamentary majority, the Kremlin maintains unchecked legislative authority to pass wartime budgets, approve government appointments, and amend the constitution.