Navaly widow cheered as she joins anti-Putin protests on last day of election

17 March 2024 , 15:16

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Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny, attends a rally in Berlin (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

The widow of opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been cheered as she joins anti-Putin protests on the last day of the election.

Yulia Navalnaya, took part in demonstrations against Vladimir Putin in Berlin as people from Russia go to the polls for a third day. It is the last day of the election which is expected to allow Putin to continue his rule. The demonstrations came as Ukraine began to fight back against its forces in a new wave of attacks using drones to attack its forces.

Putin's opponents are expected to stage a day of action against the Russian president which they have called "Noon against Putin". Supporters of Mr Navalny want Russians who are against Mr Putin to vote in their local polling stations in a way which disrupts the authorities' lives.

Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny, attends a rally near the Russian embassy in Berlin (AFP via Getty Images)

The demonstration started at 12pm local time - around 9am GMT and suggestions have included spoiling ballot papers by writing "Alexei Navalny" across them or opposing Putin by voting for one of the other three candidates standing against the Russian leader. Some social media accounts claim large queues of voters are waiting outside voting locations in Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk before the midday protest.

People reported activists chanted "Yulia, Yulia" while clapping loudly in a display of defiance against President Putin.

Putin accused of surrounding himself with same 'actors' at series of events

The symbolic protest urged the Russian president's opponents to visit polling stations and fill out their ballots in a destructive way. Kira Yarmysh, Mr Navalny's spokesperson video footage of the crowds encouraging Ms Navalnaya as she queued. Ukraine, meanwhile has increased its cross-border attacks against Russia in the last few days as Russians head to the polls to choose their next president.

The widow of the late Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny, embraces a woman as she arrives at a rally next to the Russian embassy in Berlin (AFP via Getty Images)

Russian defence chiefs claimed it shot down 35 Ukraine drones, including five around the Moscow area. They also accused Ukraine of drone attacks at a polling station in Zaporizhzhia plus shelling of the Russian border city of Belgorod.

Reports also claimed Ukraine's security service had 'successfully' attacked three oil depots in the Samara region of Russia where it is claimed 10% of Russian oil products are refined. The drone attacks 'are unlikely' to change the war's course say experts. But they remind voters that Russia is engaged in a war which Putin is responsible for.

Meanwhile, it emerged Grant Shapps the UK Defence Secretary went from Poland to Kyiv by train 10 days ago to visit President Zelenskyy. His trip included time in Odesa which the Kremlin was aware of, and could have led to him being targeted.

At the Russian embassy in London, people lined up to cast their vote in the presidential election. And more than 200 Russians in the UK are expected to stage a protest there today. Some supporters of Putin's opponents have spoiled their ballots. Aleksandra Kallenberg, who has been here since October queued for an hour to vote.

The 19-year-old said: "I spoiled my ballot. At least the government will know they don't have our support. While Putin is leader I will not go back to Russia but I hope to go back when Russia is free."

Graeme Murray