Putin: Russia will step up attacks on Ukraine

Mr Putin said Russia would step up its attacks on Ukraine in retaliation for the shelling of Belgorod, but stressed Moscow was only targeting military targets.

President Vladimir Putin today accused Kiev of "wanting to intimidate and destabilize" by attacks on civilians, asserting that Moscow is capable of launching similar retaliations to the attack on the city of Belgorod near the border with Ukraine two days ago.

However, Mr Putin stressed that Russia would only target enemy military facilities. "We will use high-precision weapons to strike decision-making centres, troop concentrations, mercenaries and sensitive military targets," he told wounded soldiers during a visit to the Vishnevsky military hospital in Moscow.

The scene of the hotel attack in Kharkov, Ukraine, on December 31, 2023. Photo: Reuters

The Russian president also mentioned the country's retaliatory attack on the city of Kharkov, northeastern Ukraine, on December 31, 2023. "We have stepped up our attacks and will continue to step up our attacks, we cannot ignore crimes against civilians," Putin said.

Ukrainian officials have not commented on the information.

On December 30, the Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of using two Olkha heavy rocket artillery shells with cluster explosive warheads, along with many rockets launched from the Vampire system produced by the Czech Republic, to attack the city of Belgorod, the capital of the province of the same name near the border.

The situation of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Graphics: WP

The Russian military later announced that it had carried out a precision missile strike on a hotel in Kharkiv. Moscow described it as housing members of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) that planned and carried out the Belgorod attack, along with about 200 “foreign mercenaries” preparing to attack Russian territory.

Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of launching rockets, missiles and drones into its territory, including civilian infrastructure and military facilities. Ukrainian media, citing informed sources, said the country's military "targeted military targets" in Belgorod in retaliation for Russia's record-breaking raid a day earlier.

Vu Anh (According to RIA Novosti, AFP, Reuters )

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