655 Russian SVO veterans elected to regional and local offices

Russia's Central Election Commission reported that 655 participants of the special military operation (SVO) were elected in regional and local elections held September 18-20, spanning candidates from five parliamentary parties. This reflects the Kremlin's ongoing effort to integrate veterans into political structures, consolidating support for the war. The scale of veteran representation in local governance is notable but not unprecedented, continuing a trend of political co-optation.