ISW: Putin frames predetermined Duma vote as referendum on Ukraine war
Russia's State Duma elections run September 18-20 with results the Institute for the Study of War says are predetermined, and Putin is framing participation as a duty that strengthens the war effort against Ukraine. Putin said voting is a common contribution to victory, and for the first time residents of Ukrainian territory occupied since 2022 will take part.
ISW says the Kremlin regularly manipulates domestic elections to serve Putin's goals and will present United Russia's inevitable win as proof of broad public support for the war, laying groundwork to demand further sacrifices like mobilization even while denying any mobilization is planned. Russia's Supreme Court disqualified the opposition Yabloko party, which favored a ceasefire, from the elections on August 11.
In occupied territories, Russian authorities have deployed armed troops at polling stations, and the Atesh partisan movement has reported widespread fraud, including ballots filled out in the names of dead or missing Russian soldiers. Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service has also warned Russia could stage false-flag provocations in occupied areas during the vote.
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