Watch: Voting under way in Russian election tightly controlled by Kremlin

Russia’s parliamentary elections are underway, marking the first such vote since the full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The ruling United Russia party, which enjoys the backing of President Vladimir Putin, is projected to become the largest faction in the new legislature. Critics contend that the ballot is neither free nor fair, noting that all ten parties listed either support Putin’s policies and the war in Ukraine or refrain from openly opposing them. The sole explicitly anti‑war grouping, Yabloko, was struck from the ballot in the lead‑up to polling day, although a handful of its candidates remain on the lists in certain constituencies. Kremlin officials are expected to frame the outcome as evidence of nationwide endorsement for both the president and the military campaign. Voting will run from 18 to 20 September, with analysts predicting no major upsets. BBC correspondent Steve Rosenberg examines how the election might — or might not — alter Russia’s political landscape.