Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared his candidacy for a fifth term during an awards ceremony honoring participants in the extensive war he initiated against Ukraine in 2022.

This announcement follows election officials setting the dates for the presidential election on March 15-17, 2024.

The inevitability of Putin's re-election, given the lack of substantial opposition and his control over Russian media, is widely acknowledged.

Having previously served as president from 2000 to 2008 and returning to the role in 2012 after a stint as prime minister, Putin has surpassed any ruler's tenure in Russia since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

Notably, constitutional amendments in 2020 extended the presidential term from four to six years, providing Putin with a fresh opportunity to run again in the upcoming year by nullifying his previous terms.

A victory in March would see him remain as president until 2030. After that, he can then potentially serve another six years until 2036 if he decides to stand again.

Mr Putin - a former KGB officer - had been widely expected to run for the country's top job, amid huge challenges brought about by his invasion of Ukraine and resulting stand-off with the West.

He is unlikely to face any serious opposition, with most genuine opponents either dead, behind bars or in exile.

On Thursday, Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, announced the elections. Shortly afterwards, the country's electoral commission said they would be held over three days, from 15-17 March.

Following the announcement, the Kremlin's official spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that an "astonishing" number of people wanted Mr Putin to continue as leader.

He did not take long to make his intentions clear.

Mr. Putin spoke at an informal gathering after a ceremony in the Kremlin to award Ukraine war veterans with the Hero of Russia medal.

His words were in answer to a request that he stand again for election from Lt-Col Artyom Zhoga, who heads a former pro-Russian separatist unit in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region - which Moscow declared annexed together with another three Ukrainian regions in September 2022.

"Now is the time when one needs to take decisions. I will be running for the post of president of the Russian Federation," Mr Putin said in remarks shown on Russian TV.

Mr Putin was handed the presidency at the very end of 1999 by his ailing predecessor Boris Yeltsin.

Mr Putin's grip on power, which has never really been in doubt, has tightened throughout his leadership.

What's he running for? He no dey tire?