Putin says Ukraine will be punished for attacks on Russian election day

Speaking to members of Russia's security council, President Putin said Kiev was trying to attack civilian areas in Russia to intimidate people and disrupt the voting process, at least in border areas. "These hostile attacks cannot go unpunished," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Sputnik

According to Mr. Putin, pro-Ukrainian armed forces conducted 4 attacks on the Belgorod region and 1 attack on the Kursk region with 35 tanks and 40 armored vehicles.

The Russian president said 95 percent of the shells and missiles were shot down by Russian air defenses. However, a few still got through and caused casualties among Russian civilians.

Mr Putin said about 60% of the 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers in the offensive had been killed. The force had also lost half of its armoured vehicles.

"I am sure that our people, the Russian people, will respond to this with even greater solidarity. Whom have they decided to threaten? The Russian people?", Mr. Putin said.

Earlier on March 12, the armed group Free Russian Corps (FRL) announced that it had carried out cross-border attacks into western Russia from Ukraine using tanks.

"This is only the first day of the offensive... The most interesting things are yet to come," FRL spokesman Alexei Baranovsky said at the time, referring to the Russian presidential election.

Hoai Phuong (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ong-putin-noi-ukraine-se-bi-trung-phat-vi-tan-cong-trong-ngay-bau-cu-nga-post288085.html