The service said Europe was seeking to disrupt the normal electoral process in Russia and discredit the results.

It said European countries had encouraged Kiev in July to intensify what it described as “sabotage and terrorist attacks” against Russia.

The service also said European intelligence officials discussed cyberattacks against Russia’s electoral infrastructure during a visit to Ukraine.

It said European special services were also discussing plans for cyberattacks targeting election infrastructure.

The service said Russian non-systemic opposition groups abroad had been tasked with spreading claims that the vote was “illegitimate and illegal” before it takes place.

“Of course, neither Ukraine, where a corrupt and long ‘expired’ regime is in power, nor the Russophobic ‘political émigrés’ who have broken away from their native land, nor the totalitarian-liberal Western circles standing behind them will be able to prevent Russian citizens from making their choice. Russia knows how to fight back — not only against aggressors on the external front, but also against their hopeless attempts to undermine our country from within,” the service stated.