In a heated statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of attempting to sabotage Russia's presidential election by shelling Russian territory and sending 2,500 soldiers to breach Russia's borders. Putin vowed to respond to these actions and punish Kyiv accordingly.

As voting commenced across 11 time zones in Russia for a three-day period, Putin is poised to secure his fifth term as president, with dissent within the country largely suppressed. However, the shadow of the ongoing Ukraine conflict loomed over the election, as Putin alleged repeated shelling from Ukraine's side and an alleged incursion attempt by Ukrainian proxies into Russian territory in two regions.

During a meeting of Russia's Security Council, Putin declared that the strikes made by the enemy forces would not go unanswered. He reported that there were four attacks on the Belgorod region and one on the Kursk region, both bordering Ukraine, carried out by approximately 2,500 Ukrainian proxies equipped with 35 tanks, 40 armored vehicles, resulting in a 60% casualty rate among the fighters.

However, Ukrainian officials have contradicted these claims, stating that armed Russian groups based in Ukraine, opposed to the Kremlin, were responsible for the attacks in Belgorod and Kursk. The first day of the election was marred by disruptions, including dye being poured into ballot boxes and reports of cyberattacks. Several acts of vandalism at polling stations were also reported, resulting in the arrest of at least nine individuals.

Remarkably, all other candidates in the election are from Kremlin-friendly parties, including Nikolai Kharitonov of the Communist Party, Leonid Slutsky of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, and Vladislav Davankov of the New People Party. Opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin, who attempted to run against Putin on an anti-war platform, was disqualified after irregularities were found in his list of supporters' signatures. Other potential opposition candidates have met untimely fates through imprisonment, death, or exile.

Al Jazeera's correspondent in Moscow, Dorsa Jabbari, reported that every voter she interviewed expressed support for Putin, citing trust in his leadership and policies. Meanwhile, residents in the Russia-annexed regions of Ukraine, including Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson, also participated in the election. In Donetsk, armed soldiers accompanied election officials to set up mobile voting stations amid ongoing conflict.

Ukraine has strongly condemned the election taking place in the annexed territories and has called for international sanctions on those involved in its organization and conduct. Critics of Putin, such as Olga Tokariuk, a Chatham House OSUN Academy Fellow, highlight the lack of faith among Ukrainians in the electoral process, stating that true change in Russia can only occur if it abandons its imperialistic objectives and ceases aggressive military actions.

As the election unfolds, it becomes increasingly evident that Putin's grip on power remains unchallenged, cementing his continued reign in the face of internal and external criticisms.

Note: The article has been generated based on the information provided and may not depict the current election status accurately.