Vladimir Putin called the offensive in Kharkov a response to Ukrainian attacks

The Russian president says the goal is to create a “buffer zone” and justifies the offensive by citing Kyiv’s attacks on residential areas in border regions, including Belgorod, where an attack on a residential building killed about 20 people on Sunday. “Civilians are dying there. They directly attack the city center and residential areas. I publicly stated that if this continues, we will be forced to create a safety zone, a sanitary zone. This is what we do,” said Vladimir Putin in Harbin, China, where he is on an official visit.

Meanwhile, this Friday, Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on Russian targets, namely the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and an oil refinery. At least two civilians were killed. The Russian Defense Minister said that 102 drones were intercepted in a number of regions, including Belgorod and Krasnodar, as well as Crimea. Russia also destroyed six unmanned boats in the Black Sea.

DETAILS

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