Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the regime in Kiev is trying to carry out a number of armed criminal actions during the presidential election in Russia.
"The presidential election started. In order to disrupt the voting process, to intimidate people at least in the border regions, the Kiev regime has conceived and is trying to carry out a number of criminal actions — namely attacking peaceful populated areas in Russia," Putin said during a meeting with the Security Council, adding that everyone who suffered from these attacks will receive support.
The president added that Ukraine’s attack will not remain "unpunished."
"Another possible goal of actions of this kind is to divert the attention of their own people and the public in other countries, from where the Kiev regime is trying to beg for money and all kinds of handouts in humiliating way, to divert attention from the real situation on the line of contact, where the Russian armed forces confidently hold the initiative," Putin said, adding that the "enemy" is failing in all direction and fleeing with heavy casualties.
The president revealed that more than 2,500 servicepeople, 35 tanks and some 40 armored vehicles took part in Ukraine’s recent attempt to cross into Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk regions, adding that there were four sabotage attacks in the Belgorod Region and another one in the Kursk region.
The Russian air defense destroys 95% of Ukrainian missiles, Putin added.