RT News - September 19 2026 (17:00 MSK)

The second day of the State Duma elections is in full swing, with voter turnout already exceeding 39%. Citizens are arriving at polling stations to cast their ballots to decide the nation's future, against a backdrop of the ongoing Special Military Operation. Russian citizens can cast their votes even without coming to a polling station. A much-needed option for those who are physically unable to get to one, like patients currently undergoing treatment in hospitals. US President Donald Trump signs a major bipartisan sanctions bill that threatens punitive tariffs on the world's largest oil and gas consumers. The legislation has already drawn sharp criticism from India and China - nations seeking to chart their own independent energy and foreign policies.