One third of Russia's new Duma members linked to Ukraine war, some face war-crime accusations

Preliminary results show about 148 of the 450 incoming deputies - roughly a third of the State Duma - have documented ties to the war in Ukraine, including former combatants and financiers, with several accused of war crimes.

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Russia’s first Duma election since the full-scale invasion produced a chamber where roughly one-third of the 450 seats are occupied by individuals with documented involvement in the Ukraine war. United Russia, which now holds 355 seats, initially claimed 86 war participants but later confirmed 49, all of whom earned a primary-vote bonus. Independent research counts 148 lawmakers with clear ties - ranging from frontline commanders and medics to fundraisers, equipment developers and state media figures.

Some, such as Nursultan Mussagaliyev and Alexander Lapin, are under Ukrainian war-crime investigations, while others like Dmitry Sablin and Vitaly Milonov publicly claim combat service despite contradictory travel records. Additional war-linked deputies come from LDPR, A Just Russia and as independents, though several lack verifiable service. The influx signals a deliberate integration of the war-fighting elite into legislative power.

Why it matters

The composition of Russia's legislature now directly reflects the war effort, influencing policy and accountability for alleged war crimes.

How the sides frame it

MODERATE AGREEMENT

Left-leaning coverage stresses the extent of war-linked lawmakers and war-crime investigations, while right-leaning coverage highlights the veteran presence as a record-setting achievement and cites official praise.

LEFT

Frames the new Duma as heavily populated by individuals tied to the Ukraine war, underscoring war-crime accusations and dubious combat claims.

RIGHT

Frames the election of war veterans as a notable, record-setting success that will inform legislative work, emphasizing official endorsement.

The left emphasises

roughly one-third of the 450 seats are occupied by individuals with documented involvement in the Ukraine war
independent research counts 148 lawmakers with clear ties, from commanders to state media figures
some deputies are under Ukrainian war-crime investigations

The right emphasises

46 veterans of the Ukraine war were elected, representing over one-tenth of the new parliament and setting a post-Soviet record
Kremlin spokesman says veterans' experience will shape legislative initiatives
critics note that most anti-war candidates were barred, leaving liberal Yabloko with only a regional foothold

How this story developed

Sep 10 Ukrainian forces begin new offensive in northern Donetsk, commander says
Sep 12 Russia will hold a tightly-controlled parliamentary election from Sept 18-20, the first since the 2022 invasion and seen as a barometer of support for the war.
Sep 15 Ukrainian troops repelled a Russian assault on Lyman.
Sep 16 Voting has begun, moving the election from planning to execution.
Sep 19 Putin framed the election as a plebiscite on the war and called on citizens to turn out in support.
Sep 19 State pollster VTsIOM said Putin’s trust rating hit 74.2% in the week before the election.
Sep 21 Election commission chair Ella Pamfilova said preliminary results will be announced Monday at 11 hours (10 hours in Paris).
Sep 21 Partial results show United Russia holding at least 338 of the 450 Duma seats.
Sep 21 Preliminary results show United Russia winning 355 of the 450 State Duma seats, surpassing its previous 2016 high. The foreign ministries of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway issued a joint statement condemning elections held in Crimea and the four Ukrainian regions seized by Russia as violations of Ukraine's sovereignty. They demanded accountability for those organizing the vote and urged Russia to end its war and accept an unconditional ceasefire. The same period saw France support the removal of oligarch Alisher Usmanov from the EU sanctions list, a move backed by Slovakia and linked to broader negotiations over detained French nationals in Azerbaijan.
Sep 21 The Quai d’Orsay condemns holding the vote in the occupied territories of Crimea and the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, calling it a violation of international law and the UN Charter and stating Fran
Sep 21 Western allies issued a joint declaration condemning the election as a breach of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Sep 24 Reports allege that corporate managers pressured staff to vote for United Russia, suggesting coercion in the electoral process.

In this story