Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that he does not seek to “destroy” Ukraine and that he sees no need to implement large movements there in the short or long term, only to launch 4 “suicide drones” in Kyiv on Monday morning.
The Russian leader made the comments Friday at a rare news conference in Astana, Kazakhstan, after attending a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a regional intergovernmental organization made up of ex-Soviet countries. Putin’s summit and 30-minute briefing arrived here days later. Russia introduced a series of missile movements in civilian areas of major Ukrainian cities in reaction to the destruction of a key bridge built through the Kremlin.
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“I don’t need everyone to perceive that what is happening is unpleasant, to say the least,” Putin said when asked if he regretted launching his military invasion. “But we would have had the same thing a little later, but in worse conditions. “Situations for us, that’s all. So my moves were correct, kind and timely. “
Pressed through the same journalist on whether he thought Ukraine could exist simply as a state after this war, the Russian president rejected: “We set ourselves the task of destroying Ukraine. No, of course, Array
As for his next moves in the brutal conflict, Putin said “there is no need for big moves now” in Ukraine because most of his desired goals have been achieved.
“At least for now,” he added. As for the future, let’s see.
However, that “future” he referred to came quickly, with Russia launching a series of moves in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, early Monday morning.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s workplace showed on Monday that there were explosions in the country’s capital and that one of the targets appeared to have been the headquarters of Ukraine’s national electricity company. Officials referred to the weapons as “suicide drones,” which they said. It would eventually backfire on Russian forces.
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Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said in a Telegram article that several buildings were damaged, adding that one was left on fire after a strike in the central district of Shevchenkiv. Airstrike sirens were left on for 3 hours, forcing citizens to take shelter in their positions while medics and rescue teams responded.
Alexander Kamyshin, executive director of Ukraine’s state railways, tweeted that the attacks had come to an end near Kyiv’s main train station, but that trains were still on schedule.