Rosenberg: Russia's elections will have few surprises, but for the Kremlin they matter

There is no doubt over the outcome of this vote, but for the Kremlin they are still an important moment.

The risk of a protest vote was too high at the Duma elections so a pre-election crackdown was carried out.

The three-day vote will fill 450 Duma seats and 11 regional governorships, with only parties backing Putin and Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine on the ballot. Despite official denials of a new draft, fears of mobilisation are overshadowing the vote.