Russians begin voting in controlled election as war drags

The Korea Times - Sep 18, 2026

MOSCOW — Polling stations opened early Friday in Russia's Far East, kicking off a three-day election that President Vladimir Putin's party is all but guaranteed to win in the fifth year of war with Ukraine. It will be Russia's first parliamentary election since Moscow sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict has since killed hundreds of thousands. Only parties that support Putin and the Kremlin's dragging military campaign have been registered to run. Moscow has also organized voting in occupied Ukraine. While few in Russia doubt Putin's United Russia party will sail to victory again, the vote is an opportunity for the Kremlin to gauge public support for the Ukraine war, the effects of which have hit home more than ever this year. The vote to renew the 450 seats in the Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, will run until 1800 GMT on Sunday. Russia's Kamchatka peninsula and Chukotka — on the Pacific — are the first of Russia's 11 time zones to begin voting. Putin has ruled Russia since New Year's Eve 1999 and his United Russia party has dominated Russian politics sinc

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King Charles sounded like 'lottery winner' after Diana's death, her brother writes

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Trump says progress made toward establishing US Army base in Poland

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Russians begin voting in controlled election as war drags

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MOSCOW — Polling stations opened early Friday in Russia's Far East, kicking off a three-day election that President Vladimir Putin's party is all but guaranteed to win in the fifth year of war with Ukraine. It will be Russia's first parliamentary election since Moscow sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict has since killed hundreds of thousands. Only parties that support Putin and the Kremlin's dragging military campaign have been registered to run. Moscow has also organized voting in occupied Ukraine. While few in Russia doubt Putin's United Russia party will sail to victory again, the vote is an opportunity for the Kremlin to gauge public support for the Ukraine war, the effects of which have hit home more than ever this year. The vote to renew the 450 seats in the Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, will run until 1800 GMT on Sunday. Russia's Kamchatka peninsula and Chukotka — on the Pacific — are the first of Russia's 11 time zones to begin voting. Putin has ruled Russia since New Year's Eve 1999 and his United Russia party has dominated Russian politics sinc

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US to allow Iranian leaders to attend UN meeting in New York amid wartime stand-off

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