San Francisco Frontiers - Peace is a 'dangerous' word in Russian city heading to polls

At first glance, the city of around 250,000 -- some 500 kilometres (300 miles) southeast of Moscow -- exudes calm.

Its quaint 19th-century houses and Soviet architecture seem far away from the Russian offensive in Ukraine, where hundreds of thousands have been killed.

Until that tranquility was shattered on a July night, when a Ukrainian drone smashed into a warehouse of online retail giant Wildberries outside the city.

Seven people were killed and 25 wounded. A repeat attack a month later completely destroyed the site, where some 5,000 people used to work.

"It's terrifying, impossible to put into words just how awful it is," said Diana, an 18-year-old student in the city.

- 'Go and vote' -

Despite the result of the September 18-20 vote being in no doubt -- President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party set for a comfortable majority -- many in Tambov, including Diana, see the poll as crucial.

"It's essential to go and vote, because the future, I believe, depends on us," said Daria, a 35-year-old manicurist.

"It's very important to choose the right party, to cast your vote, not to ignore this moment."

She was backing Yabloko because they are "against military action".

The anti-war party has been banned from running at the national level but is still fielding a handful of candidates in constituency races across the country.

They stand little chance against the pro-Putin ruling United Russia party -- set to retain its majority -- and the other pro-war paper opposition groups that will share the rest of the seats.

"Almost everyone is going to vote for United Russia. I know I'll vote against," said 76-year-old Vladimir Vinogradov.

He plans to back the Communist Party, which supports the offensive in Ukraine.

Andrei Zhidkov, the party's 64-year-old candidate in Tambov, told AFP he opposes peace talks with Kyiv.

"Victory... means survival, the survival of the state," he said, sitting in front of a bust of Communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin and a red flag.

"Any war ends in peace. But peace proposals during a war are always a dangerous path. That's why we are a fighting party."

Several members of the local party are fighting against Ukraine. Six have been killed, he said.

- Dangerous 'peace' -

Yabloko candidate Yana Zenkina, 32, is the only one calling for an end to Russia's offensive.

In her modest office, a poster bears a famous quote from legendary Soviet rock group Kino: "Our hearts demand changes."

Her campaign videos have been banned from local television after the station and local election officials alleged they displayed "signs of an extremist nature".

"The word 'peace' is considered offensive, dangerous," Zenkina told AFP, smiling.

Nevertheless she said she has felt "enormous support from young people and even from the older population".

"People are tired," with the conflict dragging through its fifth year.

"It's a heavy burden, economically and socially. Everyone is already exhausted, and naturally, they want to live in calm, in peace, to be safe."

The Russian economy has stagnated over the last year, with Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries triggering nationwide fuel shortages and pushing prices higher.

The party was banned at the national level after seeing a jump in membership and winning the support of the exiled Russian opposition -- outlawed in Russia as traitors and enemies of the state.

Across Tambov, posters encourage voters to go to the polls with the slogan: "Your voice is Russia's strength."

The Kremlin sees securing a high turnout as a way to legitimise Putin's rule, analysts say.

Ukrainian attacks -- even the one on Wildberries close to Tambov -- have not triggered any "influx" into the pro-peace camp, Zenkina said.

The factory was one of the best-paying blue-collar jobs in the area.

But the head of the city's employment centre, Olga Meshcheryakova, told AFP there were good alternatives.

"Enterprises in the city and region can offer comparable salaries... in the defence industry."

I.Wright--SFF