Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the deaths of six people killed at a university in the city of Perm are a loss to the nation.
The statement was made today while speaking on television a few hours after a gunman opened fire at the University of Perm.
Meanwhile, President Putin has thanked the Russian people for showing their faith in the ruling United Russia party, which has won a majority of seats in parliament in an election that opponents say was marred by fraud.
The party supports Putin.
The leader thanked the Russian people at a televised conference also attended by the head of the Electoral Commission, Ella Pamfilova.
