Key developments concerning Russia around September 22, 2026:

• State Duma Election Fallout: Following the September 18–20 State Duma elections, official tallies continue to solidify United Russia’s dominance. The European Union and international observers have issued statements refusing to recognize the election’s legitimacy or results, specifically citing the exclusion of opposition platforms like Yabloko and the illegal staging of voting within occupied Ukrainian territories.

  Institute for the Study of War+ 1

• Domestic Infrastructure & Industrial Strikes: Russian refineries remain under pressure from long-range aerial targeting, with reports of drone strikes impacting industrial and energy infrastructure, including damage reported at the Kuibyshev oil refinery in Samara. Concurrently, reports indicate Russia has been expanding underground production capabilities at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone to protect its drone manufacturing lines from strikes.

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• Military Operations in Ukraine: Russian forces launched large-scale overnight combined missile and drone assaults aimed at industrial targets and regional centers across Ukraine, including Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, and Pavlohrad.

  militarnyi.com

• Foreign Policy and Sanctions: European Union member states remain in intensive negotiations regarding the latest package of sanctions aimed at Moscow’s energy and industrial revenue. Meanwhile, Russian representatives participated in the 15th ASEAN Economic Ministers–Russia consultation in Manila to pursue deeper alternative trade channels across Southeast Asia.

  ASEAN Main Portal