Russia's ruling United Russia party was on track to easily win a parliamentary election that President Vladimir Putin has cast as a test of support for the war in Ukraine, partial official results showed on Sunday (September 20), after Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on the Russian capital.

In a tightly controlled political system which critics say does not tolerate genuine dissent, initial results showed United Russia comfortably ahead with 57.5% of the vote. Other parties like the Communists, the ultra-nationalist LDPR, the New People party and the Just Russia party - who all vote the same way as United Russia on major issues - trailed by a huge margin but were on course to win seats in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council and a former president, was quick to declare that United Russia had performed with dignity, a result he said showed that Russians had entrusted it to govern further.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

MOSCOW, RUSSIA (SEPTEMBER 20, 2026) (UNITED RUSSIA - Access all)

1. UNITED RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN MOSCOW OFFICE APPLAUDING UNITED RUSSIA PARTY VICTORY IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION AFTER CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENT OF EARLY RESULTS

2. UNITED RUSSIA PARTY LEADER AND DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF RUSSIAN SECURITY COUNCIL DMITRY MEDVEDEV SPEAKING IN FEDERAL UNITED RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN OFFICE

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MOSCOW MAYOR, SERGEI SOBYANIN, SAYING:

"The adversary - the Kyiv regime- did everything possible to disrupt the elections and alter the country's (Russia's) political landscape. This was particularly true regarding Moscow. Over the past two months, tens of thousands of drones were directed at Moscow, the Moscow region, and our area. The adversary was convinced they would achieve their objective, but the outcome was the exact opposite: Moscow saw record voter turnout for the State Duma (lower chamber of Russian parliament) elections."

4. MEDVEDEV SPEAKING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF RUSSIAN SECURITY COUNCIL, DMITRY MEDVEDEV, SAYING:

"Indeed, this election campaign was truly unique and extremely intense. It was also competitive, as we were rivalling with our colleagues and representatives of other political forces. Yet the primary tension did not lie there (not between the parties). It played out on the front line of the confrontation with the enemy, with our adversary (Ukraine). Indeed, in recent days, the adversary made titanic, colossal efforts to undermine the election results. But, as has been rightly said, this only served to unite the voters, to unite our people. And that is, perhaps, the most important outcome of this election."

6. CLOSE-UP OF MEDVEDEV SPEAKING