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Inside Russia's 2026 parliamentary election: Banned opposition, rigging, and war
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Inside Russia's 2026 parliamentary election: Banned opposition, rigging, and war

by Oleg Sukhov

A parliamentary election kicked off in Russia on Sept. 18 in what is expected to be a rubber-stamp ritual intended to legitimize President Vladimir Putin's rule. The election will be held over several days and will be completed on Sept. 20. The voting is taking place amid growing frustration among Russians with the war as its costs mount, and Ukraine intensifies drone strikes on Russian territory. However, there is little opportunity for voters to express their discontent since anti-war parti

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Ukraine war latest: Zelensky approves 'new long-range operations' in response to Russian strikes

Key developments on Sept. 19-20: * Zelensky approves 'new long-range operations' in response to Russian strikes * Moscow Oil Refinery ablaze after massive Ukraine missile, drone blitz on Russia * Ukraine reveals new Operation Vivaldi gains in Donetsk Oblast * US Army awards $10.6 million contract for Ukrainian Raybird drones * No tanks, lone soldiers — Ukraine details new Russian assault tactics President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sept. 19 that he had approved new long-range operations i

Why Zelensky is facing a political crisis

The Kyiv Independent’s reporter Kateryna Denisova and War Crimes Investigations Unit journalist and political blogger Danylo Mokryk argue that recent corruption scandals, tensions around anti-corruption institutions, and a growing lack of political accountability are changing the balance of power inside Ukraine.

About Russia

The Kyiv Independent’s coverage of news on Russia. Spanning eleven time zones across Eastern Europe and Asia, Russia has an estimated population of 146 million people. Russia’s capital city is Moscow, which is home to almost one in 10 Russians. Russia’s official currency is the Russian Ruble.

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