Vladimir Putin has weighed in on multiple reports alleging Russian citizens have burned down ballot boxes in protest as the Russian election is underway.

Footage has emerged online showing Russian voters expressing their dissent by tampering with voting papers at polling stations.

In one video, a woman was filmed pouring what appeared to be ink into one of the ballot boxes.

In another clip, a woman wearing a black coat and scar can be seen setting fire to a ballot box before stepping away and seemingly pulling her phone out to document the incident.

Putin slammed the reports as he suggested the protests were part of a “terrorist” campaign waged by Ukraine in a bid to disrupt the election.

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He also accused Kyiv of intensifying military strikes on Russian territory to “intimidate” voters – a goal he claimed Ukraine will not achieve.

According to the TASS news agency, Putin said: “These attacks, pointless from the military point of view and criminal from the humanitarian point of view, as has been said, are geared to hinder presidential election in Russia.

“I am convinced that our people will respond to this by being more consolidated.

“Who do they want to intimidate? The Russian people? The Multiethnic people of Russia?”

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