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Vladimir Putin participated in online voting for the State Duma elections in Russia, which took place between September 18 and 20. The process drew ridicule on social media as users noted his struggles with technology while casting his vote.
Voting in the State Duma elections will take place from September 18 to 20, 2026. Following the elections, intelligence sources indicate preparations for a ‘stealth mobilisation’ in Russia may escalate.
European leaders are increasingly concerned about the potential escalation of military actions by Vladimir Putin following the State Duma elections, with intelligence sources indicating preparations for a “stealth mobilisation.” In response to these tensions, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned of the “real risk” of drone strikes entering Eastern European territories, pledging a “resolute response” if attacked.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how the perceived escalation of tensions following the elections will affect military actions in Ukraine and its allies.
Putin faces ridicule for technology skills while voting in State Duma elections
Most Vladimir Putin stories revolve around strikes, assassinations, or wars, but this time, people have found something else to mock him for.
The Russian president cast his vote online in the country’s State Duma elections, which are held between September 18 and 20 to elect members of the lower house.
But the way he did so sparked a flurry of memes and jokes, as social media users noticed his ‘vintage’ approach to technology.
Footage of the moment shows the 73-year-old leader struggling to operate his computer mouse while squinting intently at the screen.
At one point, he inches closer to the monitor and pauses to read before continuing his voting, his left hand clenched in a fist on the desk.
Putin gives a small smile after completing what looked to be a challenging process, nods, closes his folder, and rises from his seat, clearly pleased with himself.
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Vladimir Putin has been mocked for his tech skills while voting in the election (Picture: TASS)
The camera then pans to the screen to prove his vote has been submitted successfully, although what caught people’s attention more was the pop-up in the bottom right corner.
‘Could someone please activate the old man’s Windows? A nuclear power, and they still can’t afford a license,’ quipped @GlushkoDenys on X.
@1_spp poked fun at Putin’s ‘2008 Dell monitor’, while @SpHirinn said he appeared to have ‘never used a computer’.
‘Bro looks like my uncle playing Solitaire on Windows XP 🤣’, @MarioNawfal laughed, given the president’s squinting and straining.
As for the election itself, polls show that Putin’s United Russia Party is likely to win the majority of seats.
The Russian president, 73, continues to put fear into European leaders (Picture: Mikhail Metzel/Pool Sputnik Krem)
Meanwhile, Putin has instilled further fear in European leaders, who are worried that he is about to escalate his war against Ukraine and attacks on Kyiv’s allies.
An intelligence source told The Telegraph that he is laying the ground for a ‘stealth mobilisation’ following the weekend’s election.
‘What we are seeing is administrative preparations to make it possible to do it, if that was the decision,’ they said.
After repeated attacks near the Nato border, countries surrounding war-torn Ukraine remain vigilant, with Poland’s premier, Donald Tusk, issuing his own warning over what might be ahead.
News agency AP reported that he said Russia will pretend hybrid drone and rocket strikes on European countries supporting Ukraine are ‘accidental’.
He added to the Polish parliament in a speech that Putin’s goal will be to ‘paralyse or at least weaken the motivation of Nato countries’.
Poland’s premier, Donald Tusk, said there is a ‘real risk’ of destruction from drones hitting countries supporting Ukraine (Picture: Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP)
This places Poland in the firing line, with Tusk saying: ‘There is a real risk that drones or other types of projectiles will enter the territory of one or several countries on the eastern flank and even cause destruction.’
He vowed that ‘if anyone dares to attack us, they will face a resolute response from us and our allies’.
Tusk insisted that Moscow will not enter peace talks without ‘total capitulation’ from Ukraine.
A drone hit a petrol station near Ukraine’s border with Poland yesterday, with a military spokesperson then confirming air defences were activated as airports temporarily suspended operations.
Also on Thursday, missiles and drones hit more than 10 locations in the Ukrainian capital and damaged 33 sites in the wider region, injuring at least 19 people, including a 10-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy.
This evening, during a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission, Putin said Russia has no aggressive intentions against Europe.
He added that some leaders are seeking to justify ‘exorbitant spending on the war in Ukraine’.
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