Russia has vowed to intensify its strikes on Ukraine in response to a series of drone attacks launched by Ukrainian forces during Russia's legislative elections. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that it would continue to launch high-precision strikes against military targets in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. This move comes after Ukraine allegedly launched a wave of drone strikes against Russian cities, including Moscow, on the final day of Russia's legislative elections.
The Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of attempting to disrupt the democratic process in Russia through these drone strikes. According to the ministry, the strikes were aimed at intimidating Russians and undermining the country's electoral process. The ministry did not provide evidence to support these claims. Ukrainian officials have not publicly commented on the allegations.
The drone strikes on Moscow caused significant damage and casualties, with two people killed and over 20 injured. The strikes also targeted a major oil facility and a logistics center in the Russian capital. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the strikes, saying they had a significant impact on Russian military capabilities.
The Russian government has described the drone strikes as an "unprecedented" attack on the country's capital. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that the city's air defenses had intercepted over 1,600 drones, including 450 heading towards Moscow. Sobyanin accused Ukraine of attempting to create panic and disrupt the electoral process.
The legislative elections in Russia concluded on Sunday, with the ruling party, "United Russia," expected to maintain its majority in parliament. The party has won all parliamentary elections since 2003 and is seen as a key supporter of President Vladimir Putin's policies. The elections were held amid heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing for several years, with periods of relative calm punctuated by outbreaks of violence. The situation has deteriorated in recent months, with both sides accusing each other of aggression. The international community has expressed concern over the escalation of the conflict.
The Russian government has also reported a significant increase in cyberattacks targeting its election infrastructure. According to officials, over 1,000 cyberattacks were launched against Russian election systems during the voting period. The government has not specified which groups or countries were responsible for the attacks.
Key points
- Russia threatens to increase attacks on Ukraine in response to drone strikes during legislative elections
- Ukrainian drone strikes cause damage and casualties in Moscow
- Russia reports significant increase in cyberattacks targeting election infrastructure
