Preliminary results from Russia's elections suggest that the party backed by President Vladimir Putin, United Russia, will maintain its grip on parliament.

The outcome comes as no surprise, according to the BBC's Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg, who has been following the elections from Moscow.

The vote comes after more than four and a half years of war against Ukraine, a conflict which has seen huge battlefield losses for the Russian army and sparked economic hardship.

The only anti-war party, Yabloko, was removed the ballot in the run-up to polling day – although some candidates remained in some constituencies.

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