Russia hails ‘record’ win for Putin in vote with no opposition

Russia’s election commission on Monday hailed what it said were “record” results for President Vladimir Putin, guaranteeing the former spy a fifth term in office after a vote that featured no credible opposition.
The Kremlin has presented the weekend election — marred by ballot spoilers and Ukrainian bombardments of border regions — as proof Russians were behind Putin’s assault on Ukraine.
Putin’s victory, which was inevitable, paves the way for him to become the longest-serving Russian leader in more than two centuries.
All of the 71-year-old’s major opponents are dead, in prison or in exile and voting took place a month after Putin’s main challenger Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic prison.
“Almost 76 million people” voted for Putin, Kremlin-friendly election chief Ella Pamfilova said. “This is a record figure.”
Putin has steered Russia into isolation from the West by launching the 2022 Ukraine campaign.
“In the face of the West, we are united,” Pamfilova said.
In a victory speech late on Sunday, Putin vowed Moscow would resist outside pressure.
“No matter who or how much they want to intimidate, no matter who or how much they want to suppress, our will, our consciousness — no one has ever succeeded in anything like this in history,” he said.
“It has not worked now and will not work in the future. Never.”
Ballot spoilers to be ‘dealt with’ 
In power since the last day of 1999, Putin has cultivated a strong man image, telling Russians he is fighting to preserve Moscow’s national identity he claims is under threat.
His offensive in Ukraine has been accompanied by a huge crackdown at home, with the number of political prisoners in Russia rising fast.
Thousands responded to the opposition’s call to protest the election by forming long queues at polling stations — both inside and outside Russia.
Ballots were also spoiled by green dye and there were several incidents of voting booths being set on fire.
Putin vowed that Russians who spoiled their ballots “have to be dealt with” and dismissed opposition protests as having “no effect.”
He said the vote showed Russians had “trust” in him.
The three-day vote — also held in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine — and saw a surge of deadly Ukrainian bombardments on Russian border regions.
Authorities said Ukrainian attacks killed 11 people were killed in Russia’s Belgorod region in the last week.
 China, N.Korea congratulate Putin