Russia said Monday it had handed over three navy ships it seized a year ago from Ukraine, in the latest move to ease tensions between the two countries ahead of a crucial summit.

President Vladimir Putin hosts dozens of African leaders next week as Russia seeks to reassert its influence on the continent and beyond.

About 200 Russians including actors and musicians staged a protest on Wednesday outside the presidential administration in Moscow in support of jailed demonstrators amid a crackdown on the opposition.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will host his Russian and Iranian counterparts on Monday for their latest summit on Syria, with attention focused on Damascus's push on the last rebel-held bastion of Idlib.

Russian police on Thursday raided dozens of offices of the opposition group behind mass protests this summer and the homes of its supporters, activists said.

Russia said Wednesday it has "no expectation" of any improvement in relations with Washington after the dismissal of Donald Trump's national security advisor John Bolton.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called for easing tensions with Russia as top French ministers met their counterparts in Moscow on Monday.

The UN rights chief voiced concern Monday over the massive police crackdown on demonstrators in Russia in the run-up to weekend elections, urging an investigation into alleged excessive use of force.

All 24 Ukrainians captured by Russia last year are expected to be part of an imminent prisoner swap between Kiev and Moscow, the head of their defence team told AFP on Saturday.

Moscow on Tuesday said the United States was ramping up military tensions by testing a medium-range cruise missile weeks after tearing up a pact with Russia.