elections

Russia's 2026 State Duma elections saw United Russia retain and expand its constitutional majority, with no opposition parties making gains and the anti-war Yabloko party barred from the ballot. The vote, held amid the war in Ukraine and economic strain, was widely seen as predetermined, though the Kremlin invested heavily in turnout and presentation. Analysts say the result will likely reinforce the status quo, but how the Kremlin uses the mandate remains an open question.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy faces mounting domestic pressure as a corruption probe ensnares a former deputy head of his office, and a Russian strike on a poorly-sited ammunition warehouse kills 37 civilians. With the EU demanding zero tolerance on graft and calls for wartime elections growing, Zelenskyy replaces his ground forces commander and meets anti-corruption chiefs.

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy faces a corruption probe that led to the arrest of a former deputy, as the EU warns of zero tolerance on graft. Simultaneously, he orders a major escalation of drone strikes inside Russia. The twin pressures test his wartime leadership and Ukraine's EU ambitions.

Zelenskyy rejects wartime election calls as the Operation Forrest Gump probe snares ex-deputy Iryna Mudra. Meanwhile, Ukraine strikes 16 targets inside Russia in a single day as the White House pushes for a negotiated end to the war.

Zelenskyy rejects wartime election calls as a former senior official faces corruption charges, while Trump's Independence Day message mixes praise with a push for peace. The cases highlight the political pressures on Kyiv alongside the military fight.