Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the audience at the United Russia party congress held in Moscow in June, three months ahead of parliamentary elections this Sunday. His party is expected to retain its majority. Maxim Shipenkov/AP hide caption

Demonstrators hold Russian opposition flags during a rally protesting election fraud in Moscow in 2011. Russian President Vladimir Putin blames Hillary Clinton for protests like this, which took place in 2011 and 2012. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP hide caption

Russian President Vladimir Putin (center) joins Russia's federal highway agency head Roman Starovoit (left) and Crimean leader Sergei Aksyonov (second from left) on a visit to the Kerch Strait bridge construction site on Tuzla Island on March 18. The bridge will link Crimea to mainland Russia. Mikhail Klimentyev/AP hide caption

In Russia's view, Hillary Clinton's campaign has raised the email hacking issue to draw attention away from the content of the leaked emails. Dake Kang/AP hide caption

Russia recently introduced a new frigate, the Admiral Grigorovich, and invited journalists on board at the Russian base in Sevastopol, Crimea. While the Russians have had a naval base in Sevastopol since the 18th century, Russia's seizure of the entire Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 has heightened tensions with NATO. Corey Flintoff/NPR hide caption