RUSSIANS headed to the polls today for the first of three days that will decide their president for the next six years.

Vladimir Putin is all but certain to win a fifth term in office.

His main opposition will come from Nikolai Kharitonov, representing the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, which still commands widespread support.

Mr Kharitonov claimed the vote was taking place “in the context of a war unleashed against us by Nato.” 

He argued that “to survive the war with the West and win, the country needs to be completely healthy. Change is needed on a strong foundation.

“Time has proven: the communists were right. Capitalism is bankrupt. It smells of war and fascism. The future belongs to socialism.”

The other two candidates are Leonid Slutsky of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia and Vladislav Davankov of the pro-business New People party.

Around 110 million voters are eligible to vote at more than 100,000 polling stations overseen by about a million election organisers.

Voters can also cast their votes electronically through a federal online voting platform.

The ballot runs until March 17 with the result due to be announced the following day.