Russian National Guard

Russia began voting on Friday in an election set to prolong President Vladimir Putin's rule by six more years, as Kiev branded the vote a "farce" and launched a barrage of deadly attacks on border regions.

Kiev has launched some of its largest air attacks on Russia this week ahead of the vote.

This move should enable the transfer of special forces from the Thunder unit to the front lines in Ukraine, said Alexander Khinshtein, a member of the Russian parliament from Putin's United Russia party.

The gun rampage at a school in the city of Kazan has prompted President Vladimir Putin to order a tightening of Russia's gun controls.

A 19-year-old, Ilnaz Galyaviev, was detained and he is the suspected shooter. Seven children and two adults were killed. Dozens more were wounded and some are in critical condition.

The dead body of the man, who earlier opened fire at law enforcement officers in a gated community of Novye Veshki near Moscow, was found in his burnt-out house, a law enforcement source told TASS on Tuesday.

"The shooter's body was discovered in his burned-out cottage," the source said.