Russia claims Kyiv sought to disrupt Duma vote with Western backing

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Kyiv, backed by Western sponsors, attempted to undermine stability and instill panic during the State Duma elections held between September 18 and 20. The ministry’s diplomatic commentary asserted that this effort aimed to sabotage the democratic will of Russian citizens through financial, intelligence, and technical assistance provided by foreign patrons.

Allegations of Ukrainian Destabilization Efforts

This statement follows a series of similar accusations from Moscow. Rodion Miroshnik, a special assignment ambassador at the Russian Foreign Ministry, reported observing a dangerous escalation by Kyiv throughout the election preparation and voting period. He noted that Ukrainian actions directly targeted regions where the electoral process was taking place.

Defense Ministry Reports Drone Attacks

The Russian Defense Ministry announced that Kyiv launched a large-scale attack on Russian territory on September 19 and 20. The assault reportedly involved unmanned aerial vehicles and Flamingo cruise missiles. Officials claimed the objective was to disrupt the democratic expression of voters in the Duma elections. According to the ministry, air defenses shot down 1,951 attack drones and eight long-range cruise missiles over Russian regions within a single day.

Foreign Intelligence Claims EU Interference

Sergei Naryshkin, director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, stated that Moscow detected interference in the Duma elections orchestrated by the European Union. He alleged that the bloc had prepared a statement regarding the election outcome in advance.

Election Commission Announces Final Results

The Central Election Commission of Russia declared on Friday that the United Russia party secured 349 seats in the Duma. The commission reported a voter turnout of 59.8%, corresponding to 67,448,094 votes cast. Chairwoman Ella Pamfilova detailed the distribution of remaining seats among other political entities.

Seat Distribution Among Political Parties

Pamfilova confirmed that the Communist Party of the Russian Federation won 37 seats, followed by the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia with 23 seats. The New People party obtained 19 seats, while A Just Russia – For Truth secured 17. The Motherland party received one seat, and four independent candidates won individual mandates.