Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, has claimed that fighting has intensified in recent days following Ukrainian attacks on Russia during the country’s parliamentary elections.
Reuters reported early Saturday, Sept. 26, that Putin made the remarks while speaking to reporters on Friday.
According to the report, Putin claimed that Moscow had been prepared to resume talks with Kyiv after Russia’s parliamentary elections last week, but Ukraine carried out attacks against Moscow and targeted polling stations.
Putin also claimed that Ukraine had escalated the conflict by carrying out widespread attacks on St. Petersburg during an international conference in June, as well as an attack on Moscow last week that coincided with the main day of Russia’s parliamentary elections.
He added that Ukrainian forces attacked polling stations, killing one election official and injuring several others.
Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian attacks against each other have intensified significantly in recent weeks.
