Ukraine carried out a significant drone attack on Moscow on Sunday, coinciding with the final day of Russia’s parliamentary elections. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that the strikes resulted in the deaths of four people, including an election official in the Russian-occupied Kherson region. A Moscow oil refinery, previously targeted, also sustained damage. Sobyanin claimed the drone attack was intended to disrupt the elections, but he asserted it was repelled successfully.
This election is the first since Russia began its full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022. The ruling United Russia party is expected to maintain its authority in a political environment where dissent is not tolerated. The Kremlin is likely to present the election results as proof of public support for President Putin’s policies and the ongoing war, which has no foreseeable end.
Election authorities indicated that the voting process went smoothly, despite reports of cyberattacks. By early afternoon, voter turnout was over 50%. Most anti-war candidates were barred from participating. Those candidates from the liberal Yabloko party expressed fears for their safety after severe sentences were given to senior party members for their remarks on the war. Spreading information that opposes the military is punishable by lengthy imprisonment.
In an act of protest, Yabloko’s leader, Nikolai Rybakov, intentionally spoiled his ballot to express support for peace. The Kremlin maintains that national unity and censorship are critical during what it refers to as its “special military operation.” It views the conflict as part of a larger struggle against a hostile West and claims that Ukrainian intelligence is attempting to incite unrest in Russia.
Russian officials reported that Moscow’s online voting system experienced a cyber attack. Ukraine dismissed the Russian elections as a “pseudo election.” Putin accused Ukraine of trying to influence the vote and claimed a Ukrainian strike killed an election official. Experts suggest that, despite predictable outcomes, increased public discomfort due to the war might lead to unexpected support for permitted opposition parties such as the Communist party. Initial results are expected to be released around 1800 GMT on Sunday, with complete results available Monday.
With information from Reuters
