Key facts
- Russian authorities closed Sochi polling stations on September 18, 2026, due to a drone attack threat.
- Voters and election officials were moved to shelters.
- Russia began a three-day election for its 450-member State Duma on September 18, 2026.
- The elections are the first since the full-scale war in Ukraine began.
- Ukrainian drone attacks have increased in frequency along Russia's Black Sea coast.
Voting in Russia's State Duma elections was temporarily halted in the Black Sea city of Sochi on September 18, 2026, due to the threat of a Ukrainian drone attack, according to local authorities. The city's mayor, Andrey Propushin, stated that "exhaustive security measures have been taken at polling stations in Sochi," and that "Members of election commissions, observers and voters, who are at the precincts, have been moved to shelters until the 'drone attack' threat is lifted."
Russia commenced its three-day elections for the 450-member State Duma, the lower house of its legislature, on September 18. This marks the first such election since the full-scale war in Ukraine began over four and a half years ago. Voters are also participating in elections for 11 regional governors and 39 regional parliaments.
While Russian elections are tightly controlled, they offer the Kremlin a gauge of public support for the invasion of Ukraine. The ruling United Russia party, supported by President Vladimir Putin, is widely anticipated to retain its majority in the legislature.