MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin stated on Monday (Jan 1) that Moscow will intensify strikes on army targets in Ukraine after an unprecedented attack over the weekend on the Russian metropolis of Belgorod.
The assault killed 24 individuals and left over 100 wounded in Belgorod on Saturday. It got here after Moscow launched a large-scale assault on Ukrainian cities.
“We’ll intensify the strikes, no crime towards civilians will relaxation unpunished, that is for sure,” Putin stated on Monday throughout a go to to a army hospital.
He stated Russia will press on with hitting what he referred to as “army installations”.
“We’re doing that in the present day, and tomorrow we are going to proceed doing it,” Putin stated, virtually two years into Moscow’s offensive.
He spoke as Ukraine stated Russia had hit it with a “document” variety of drones on New 12 months’s Day.
Putin referred to as the Belgorod hit a “terrorist assault” and accused Ukrainian forces of focusing on “proper within the metropolis centre, the place individuals had been strolling, earlier than New 12 months’s Eve”.
He repeated a declare that Ukraine is being utilized by the West to “settle its issues” with Russia.
The Russian chief stated he believed the “strategic initiative” within the dragging battle was on the Russian aspect.
“In any case that’s how I’m being briefed and I all the time insist: Any offensive operations must be carried out after a defeat of the enemy,” he stated, based on the Interfax information company.
