This victory solidifies his hold on power, despite thousands of opponents staging symbolic protests at polling stations.

With this early result, Putin, who has been in power since 1999, is poised to win a new six-year term, potentially surpassing Josef Stalin to become Russia’s longest-serving leader in over 200 years.

Exit polls conducted by pollster FOM showed Putin winning 87.8 percent of the vote, the highest ever recorded in Russia’s post-Soviet history. The Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) put Putin's support at 87 percent. First official results confirmed the accuracy of the polls.

The election comes amid ongoing tensions, with Ukraine's conflict casting a shadow. Putin has framed the conflict as a "special military operation" and emphasized national security throughout his campaign.

Despite Putin's assured victory, the former KGB spy sought to demonstrate overwhelming support from Russians. The nationwide turnout, exceeding 2018 levels, reached over 67.5 percent several hours before polls closed at 1800 GMT. (ILKHA)