Drone strikes and fuel shortages have angered Rostov voters.

Residents of the Rostov region surveyed by "Caucasian Knot" named drone strikes, gasoline shortages, rising prices, and internet restrictions as the main irritants ahead of the elections. Some of them intend to vote for opposition parties to reduce the results of "United Russia," while others will not go to the polls at all.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", elections to the State Duma in the Rostov region will take place in six single-member electoral districts. The ballots for the single-member district include candidates from "United Russia," the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, "Fair Russia – For Truth," "New People," "Communists of Russia," the "Pensioners' Party," and "Yabloko" (candidates are registered in two districts of the region). In 399 urban and rural settlements across all 43 districts of the region, residents will elect more than 4,000 local deputies. Additionally, by-elections to the regional Legislative Assembly are planned, according to the report "Election campaign in the North Caucasus and Southern Federal District in 2026".

On the eve of the voting, a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot" asked residents of Rostov-on-Don and the region what problems concern them and will affect their voting decisions. The opinions expressed are not a representative survey.

The difficult economic situation has added to previous problems, believes 45-year-old lawyer Vladimir. "This includes tax increases, various bans, and problems, including, of course, fuel and drone strikes. Everything is piled up. The situation has always been difficult, but now it is much worse. People are certainly dissatisfied; everyone is dissatisfied, but at the same time, as always, they do not want to do anything and participate in any way," he told the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot."

30-year-old tutor and Russian language teacher Veronika stated that she is most concerned about drones and internet restrictions. A resident of Novoshakhtinsk, Arseniy, who has a disability, admitted that his relatives are worried about the same issues.

"Of course, prices, gasoline, drone strikes. You know, when people ask me how I am, I say: I wish it were better. We need to do good for the people around us and change the world little by little for the better," he said.

The military operation in Ukraine has tired people primarily due to its domestic consequences, believes 67-year-old pensioner from Rostov-on-Don Mikhail. "First of all, because of the inconveniences it causes: fuel shortages, strikes, and so on. But peace, in their view, lies through decisive military actions to bring the enemy to its knees. Faith in the leader remains unshakable. Those who are against prefer not to voice it aloud," he said.

To vote or not to vote

Mikhail does not go to the elections on principle. "I have managed to not participate in any elections in my life, even under the communists, and I do not intend to change this rule," the pensioner asserts.

His wife Anna, also a pensioner, on the contrary, intends to vote – for "Fair Russia," the advertisement of which she saw. "They promise to raise pensions to 60,000 and lower the retirement age. I plan to vote for Mironov online, through State Services," she reported.

Veronika sees voting as a way to reduce the ruling party's results. "I will go and put a checkmark for the Communist Party through gritted teeth; let there be fewer votes for 'United Russia'," she admitted.

Vladimir is convinced that it is necessary to go to the elections. "If all people go to the elections and vote, there will be fewer opportunities for ballot stuffing and various manipulations. Therefore, I always convey and tell everyone: we must go to the elections, I argue with everyone, even with relatives. So that there is no opportunity to vote for people who do not come, to stuff ballots, and to carry out manipulations in some other way," the man believes.

At the same time, he has not decided who to vote for. "I have no personal preferences for either candidates or parties. Whether this candidate or this party will cope with these problems, I cannot say. It would be good, but now it is impossible to vote against everyone," the lawyer noted.

Arseniy has not decided either. "I don't know if I will vote and for whom. I am still quite inexperienced in this area; I haven't even thought about it," he said.