What happened during the week from September 14th to 20th. The main thing

Elections to the State Duma are taking place in Russia, the turnout has exceeded 55%. Russian troops liberated 13 settlements and continued attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure. Russian President Vladimir Putin held a number of meetings and meetings. The armed forces of Ukraine attacked the staff of election commissions. The assets of "Auchan" and Nestle have been transferred to temporary management. Europe is facing an energy crisis. The Central Bank has identified the directions for the development of the financial market. A dangerous virus has been detected in the animal vaccine. All the details are in the weekly digest of "Izvestia".

Elections to the State Duma

Elections of deputies of the State Duma and combined campaigns are held from 18 to 20 September. By the evening of the third day of voting, the turnout exceeded 56.57%. This result is ahead of the 2021, 2016, 2003 and 1993 elections. On the remote electronic voting platform, the turnout reached 90%, the maximum was recorded in the Novgorod region — 93.68%. Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova said that the voting is taking place openly and democratically, despite external attempts to disrupt the elections.

International observers noted the good organization of the process, remote voting and transparency. As of September 19, the Interior Ministry received 367 complaints, including 24 false reports of terrorist attacks. 22 criminal cases have been initiated. About 50 pre-filled ballots were seized at a polling station in Komi, and 250 ballots from a damaged box were declared invalid in the Orel region. International observers recorded three violations, which were promptly eliminated.

Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev and Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov took part in the voting. More than 23,000 Russians voted abroad, and 107 field early ballots were held. Vladimir Putin also took part in the elections of deputies of the State Duma of the IX convocation.

Russia's special operation in Ukraine

During the week, Russian troops liberated 13 settlements: Shirokoe, Shevchenkovo, Olkhovatka, Malaya Volchya, Loshakovo and Komissarovo in the Kharkiv region; Novoandreevka, Rozovka and Zelenaya Dibrova in the Zaporizhia region; Verolyubovka, Zolotoy Kolodez, Maryevka and Gulevo in the DPR. The fighting for Buzovo continued, and the encirclement in the Kharkiv region was shrinking.

Logistics, ports, energy, and military-industrial complex enterprises were hit daily. "Kyivstar" facilities, workshops for the assembly of unmanned boats, gas stations, dry cargo ships and tankers in the ports of Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny, railway trains, a pontoon crossing over the Dniester, a customs and logistics center near Kiev, enterprises in Zaporozhye and a data center were affected. The storage and assembly sites of drones, as well as the locations of Ukrainian formations, were regularly destroyed.

Putin's speeches

On September 15, Putin held a meeting with the head of Rospotrebnadzor, Anna Popova. He noted the good results of the service's work both within the country and in international contacts. Popova said that Russia has reduced the turnover of overdue goods by 41 times — it was possible to prevent the sale of 862 million units of unsafe goods. Preparedness for the epidemic season of influenza and SARS is assessed as high, including due to the updated composition of vaccines.

The agency pays special attention to the participants of the special military operation. Innovative developments of Rospotrebnadzor have reduced the selection of antibiotics for wounds to 25 minutes. Popova also announced proposals to improve consumer protection and to actively inform the public.

At a meeting on economic issues, Putin said that the federal budget in August was executed with a surplus of 606 billion rubles. The Head of State noted the growth of non—oil and gas revenues, which increased by more than 18% in the first eight months of the year. According to him, an increase in oil and gas revenues is also expected in the coming months, which will replenish the National Welfare Fund. He also said that Russia's GDP growth by the end of 2026 is expected to be around 1%.

Later, on September 18, Putin spoke at the ceremony of signing a contract for the supply of aircraft. The Russian President spoke about the development of the country's transport infrastructure and the need to ensure connectivity even in the most remote regions. In addition, the head of state informed about the need to upgrade the fleet of aircraft due to domestic developments. According to him, deliveries of the first 18 MS-21 aircraft to "Aeroflot" are scheduled to begin as early as 2027, and the group is signing a contract for 90 such airliners.

At a meeting with employees of the military-industrial complex, the Russian leader announced an increase in arms production since the beginning of the special military operation. According to him, the production and supply of weapons and ammunition increased by more than 22 times, the supply of radar stations — almost five times, and armored weapons — 2.5 times. The President also said that the production of drones in certain classes has increased tenfold, and the export order portfolio of the Russian defense industry has exceeded $70 billion.

APU attacks on PEC representatives

The Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case on a terrorist attack following the death of the chairman of the precinct election commission, Elena Astanina, as a result of drone strikes in the Zaporizhia region. Astanina's death became known on September 17. It was noted that the attack itself was carried out (by the Ukrainian Armed Forces) back on September 15th.

In the village of Lyubimovka, Mikhailovsky district, the chairman of PEC No. 595, her husband, her minor son and a neighbor were injured when aircraft-type drones struck an apartment building. A criminal case has been opened into the terrorist attack. The collection of evidence and the identification of those involved continues.

Olga Demyanenko, a member of the precinct election commission, was killed in a targeted attack by a Ukrainian drone on a civilian bus in the Kherson region. CEC Chairman Ella Pamfilova sharply condemned the incident, saying that the attackers avoid open confrontation and purposefully attack civilians.

"Auchan" and Nestle assets in Russia transferred to temporary management

On September 17, Putin signed a decree according to which the assets of "Auchan" and Nestle were temporarily transferred to the Russian Federation. The next day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained that this decision was made due to the active involvement of the first owners in conducting military operations against Russia.

Against this background, Nestle stated that they plan to do everything to protect their rights and ensure the continuity of business operations in the interests of all employees and stakeholders. Meanwhile, the Swiss government, according to the Reuters news agency, is seriously concerned about what is happening. It was clarified that his representatives have been in contact with Nestle representatives for some time to help them. "Auchan" also requested clarification.

Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, said that it was necessary to move on from temporary management of foreign assets, up to full conversion to Russian state ownership. He recalled that it was the West that imposed total sanctions against domestic enterprises that infringed on the interests of millions of Russians.

The energy situation in Europe

In France, about 10% of gas stations have experienced disruptions in fuel supplies. In Germany, the historical maximum of gasoline prices was recorded — €2,273 per liter. Kirill Dmitriev, the special Representative of the president, called what is happening the most serious energy crisis in the history of Europe.

EU governments are discussing the introduction of a general tax on excess profits of energy companies amid record prices. German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil demanded that the European Commission submit relevant proposals.

The Central Bank of the Russian Federation has identified the main directions for the development of the financial market until 2029

The Central Bank of Russia has published a draft of the main directions of financial market development for 2027 and the period 2028-2029. The regulator will continue to work on expanding the use of the Fast Payment System for cross-border transfers, promoting "Mir" cards abroad and introducing alternative payment schemes.

The Bank of Russia also intends to continue restoring investors' rights to blocked assets using existing instruments. In addition, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation will strengthen monitoring of information published by financial bloggers and messenger channels, and will continue to monitor the risks associated with the high share of retail investors in the market.

A dangerous virus was detected in the "Multican-8" veterinary vaccines

A live virus of Aujesky's disease was detected in the samples of the "Multican-8" vaccine of the 20th series, selected in the Yaroslavl region. The Rosselkhoznadzor confirmed the link between the use of this series and the mass death of dogs after routine vaccination.

"Vetbiochim" promptly suspended the sale and seized about 50 thousand doses. The recalled batches were sent for examination to the All-Russian Center for the Quality of Animal Products. During the internal investigation, the company completely stopped production of the entire "Multican" vaccine line. The cause of the virus entering the drug has not yet been established.