Key facts
- Russians began a three-day parliamentary election on September 18, 2026.
- President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of interfering in Russia's parliamentary election.
- Putin said Ukraine's leadership was trying to interfere with Russia's elections.
- Putin reiterated Russia's reliance on its nuclear triad and the need to improve air defense systems.
- Putin stated that Ukraine had degenerated into a dictatorship and was not holding a presidential election.
- Putin said Ukrainian strikes on Russian targets meant Kyiv's offers to hold negotiations were disingenuous.
Russians began voting on Friday, September 18, 2026, in a three-day parliamentary election, with President Vladimir Putin accusing Ukraine of deliberately hindering peace talks and interfering in the vote. Putin also reaffirmed Russia's reliance on its nuclear triad and the need to improve air defense systems.
In comments reported by Russian news agencies, Putin stated that Ukraine had "long degenerated into a dictatorship" and was not holding a presidential election despite the expiry of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's mandate. He claimed that by committing "crimes of this kind," such as Ukrainian strikes on Russian targets, Kyiv was ensuring "no peace and no negotiations."
The election is taking place amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, with most anti-war candidates excluded from the ballot. Putin has stated that the election will show millions of people back his army's fighting in Ukraine. The result is likely to be held up by the Kremlin as evidence of widespread public support for Putin's policies and his prosecution of the conflict. Ukraine, meanwhile, derides the Russian vote as a "pseudo election" with the result predetermined.