United Russia’s primaries featured hundreds of war veterans — but most were already seasoned politicians, not ordinary soldiers

United Russia's primary elections aimed to boost voter turnout ahead of the State Duma vote but only managed a meager 9.03%, falling short of their 10% target. Despite showcasing hundreds of war veterans, the majority were seasoned politicians rather than ordinary soldiers, raising questions about the authenticity of the event's focus on military representation. This underwhelming turnout signals potential challenges for the ruling party's electoral prospects and casts a shadow over Kremlin's influence, hinting at broader disengagement from political processes.