Russians are set to vote in the country's presidential election over three days, starting Friday.

The clear frontrunner among four candidates is the incumbent President Vladimir Putin. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center, or VCIOM, says 82 percent of respondents in its opinion poll said that they will vote for him. Putin's projected win would secure his fifth term as president.

Russia is also set to go ahead with what it calls an election in the southern Ukrainian region of Crimea. It is also aiming to carry out voting in four other eastern and southern regions of Ukraine that Moscow unilaterally declared as an annexation through its military invasion.

Local media say Putin is seeking a landslide victory with a 70 percent voter turnout and 80 percent of the ballots cast in favor of him.

Putin called on people to go to the polls in a video message released on Thursday. He said that Russia is facing serious challenges in every field, and it must unite and have strong confidence to overcome them.

Putin is expected to emphasize overwhelming support for him in the election indicates that he has gained public confidence. Observers say he will then continue and strengthen his ongoing policies, such as the invasion of Ukraine and confrontation with the West.

Vote counting is expected to begin late on Sunday.