Why Putin cares about the parliamentary elections in Russia, even though there will be no surprises

Residents in the European part of Russia began voting on Friday in the country's first legislative elections since the outbreak of the war, coinciding with a night of attacks involving hundreds of Ukrainian drones.

Despite the lack of political surprises anticipated from the weekend vote, the elections remain significant to President Vladimir Putin. Russia's political system functions as a "controlled democracy" directed by the Kremlin, granting the president vast powers and ensuring the parliament remains under tight control.