Russian President Vladimir Putin has asserted that an anti-Israel rampage at an airport in the southern Russian republic of Dagestan was provoked by Western special service agents operating in Ukraine.

Putin made the claim during a meeting of senior government officials that was held in the outskirts of Moscow on Monday.

It came after thousands of people stormed the airport in the central city of Makhachkala in Dagestan on Sunday night, after hearing that a passenger plane was arriving from Israel. Most of the population in Dagestan are Muslims.

Some people went onto the runway and surrounded the plane. That prompted authorities to temporarily close the airport.

Local officials say 20 people were injured in the unrest, including nine police officers. The authorities have detained 83 people.

Putin said attempts are being made to divide and destabilize Russia. Without offering evidence, he accused agents of Western special services in Ukraine of provoking the rampage in Dagestan.

Russia's federal investigative committee, which handles serious crimes, has launched an investigation. The incident occurred as Israeli forces expand their military operation against the Islamic group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.