IN BRIEF: Putin comments on Kiev’s provocative moves and Russia’s retaliatory strikes

IN BRIEF: Putin comments on Kiev’s provocative moves and Russia’s retaliatory strikes The enemy is trying to intimidate Russians and disrupt the upcoming parliamentary elections, due in September, but these attempts will fail, the president said © Mikhail Metzel/Presidential Press Service/TASSMOSCOW, August 22. /TASS/. Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian enterprises in response to Ukraine’s attacks on civilian targets in Russia, so it was the Kiev regime that opened a ‘Pandora’s box,’ Russian President Vladimir Putin told Vesti journalist Pavel Zarubin in an interview. In his words, Russian retaliatory strikes are more devastating than Ukraine’s strikes on Russia and produce a most positive effect on the battlefield situation. He also said that the enemy is trying to intimidate Russians and disrupt the upcoming parliamentary elections, due in September, but these attempts will fail. Below are the head of the state’s key remarks. Kiev’s strikes Ukraine’s attempt to defeat Russia in 40 days by carrying out massive drone and missile attacks is a risky and provocative move: "If we speak about what is happening now, then it is, of course, a result of a yet another provocative and risky move by the Kiev regime and its Western curators, who aimed to deal another strategic defeat to Russia," he said. "This time, as it is known, they wanted to achieve this in 40 days, and with the help of massive missile and drone attacks on our civilian sites and logistical routes." The goal of Ukraine’s strikes on Russia was to make it collapse by destroying whole economic sectors and undermining the unity of its people: "In short, the goal was to bring Russia to collapse - something they have long dreamed of and something they constantly talk about." The Kiev regime got an opposite result when it started to deliver drone and missile strikes on Russia: "Of course, no turning point in the confrontation with Russia could have occurred, nor has it occurred. The Kiev regime and its masters cannot gain any advantage; they have not gained it and they never will." Russia’s response Russia will always respond to strikes on its territory, including on the logistical infrastructure: "Do you want to disrupt our logistics? Well, our retaliatory measures will not be long in coming." By deciding to launch strikes on civilian sites in Russia, the Kiev regime has opened a Pandora’s box and got retaliatory attacks on its most sensitive areas in return: "The Kiev regime has set the goal of harming our economy. What did it do? It was the one to open this Pandora’s box. Well, here’s what you get in response - strikes on the most sensitive areas of your economy, which, frankly speaking, are already struggling." Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian enterprises in response to Ukraine’s attacks on civilian targets in Russia: "We started to respond to the enemy’s actions regarding our civilian production sites and logistical network." "At the same time, measures taken by the Russian armed forces are way more painful and way more devastating." Wheat is among the main items of Ukrainian exports, but logistical problems caused by Russia’s retaliatory strikes, will not lead to a shortage on global markets: "As far as global problems are concerned, hardly anything will change, because, first of all, we have great export potential. Our agriculture minister [Oksana Lut] reported just yesterday that [the export potential] is no less than 60 million metric tons. This is a very good cushion. Yes, we do face certain difficulties related to the export of our goods, but we are resolving them, which means that there will be no deficit on the global market." Situation in the special op zone Russia’s strikes on targets in Ukraine have a direct positive effect on the battlefield: "Certanly, this has the most direct and the most positive effect on the battlefield from the point of view of achieving military goals." "Of course these strikes are effective. They are timely. And, undoubtedly, they help our fighters, our heroes to resolve their combat missions. Why? Because they disrupt [the enemy’s] ability to deliver equipment and ammunition, to rotate personnel on the line of combat. They disrupt the capacity of defense enterprises to improve their products, which is exactly what they do with the direct involvement and support of their Western sponsors." Russian troops have accelerated their offensive operations and continue to successfully attain the goals of the special military operation: "The adversary’s actions have had no effect on the situation on the battlefield. Moreover, not only our troops continue to advance in all directions, they have also accelerated the pace of their offensive operations." In his words, the Russian armed forces keep successfully coping with their tasks until the goals of the special military operation are achieved. Kiev’s unacceptable and exotic proposals Russia’s response to Ukraine’s provocative actions are painful for Kiev, and so the enemy is trying to prevent possible catastrophic developments through mediators: "Russia’s response to a yet another provocative act by the Kiev regime is apparently quite painful, leading to serious consequences and bringing the situation in certain crucial areas to critical levels. That is why now the Kiev government is trying to find a way out from the situation that they themselves provoked, by seeking help from mediators, whose opinions we undoubtedly value." According to the president, the Kiev regime is trying to prevent the current situation from escalating into catastrophic scenarios, and, apparently "they are already realizing the possibility of such a scenario." Putin described the latest proposals received by Russia from Kiev as "exotic" and unacceptable: "We are always ready for dialogue, but only based on realities on the ground." The Kiev regime "is probing various directions of possible agreements." "It would be premature to get ahead of ourselves and speculate on what possible agreements could be based on." Russia will not be intimidated Kiev’s strikes on de-facto unprotected civilians and civilian infrastructure: "The loss of a human life is always a tragedy - for the family, for friends and for the whole country." Russia needs to improve its air defense network, enhance coordination between its security agencies and civilian authorities, engage state enterprises and private companies into the effort, which is "of particular importance in the run-up to elections to the State Duma." "The enemy is trying to intimidate us and to disrupt the vote. We will not let them do this. I’m sure that this attempt to exert psychological pressure and psychologically impact the Russian society is doomed to fail. We will certainly continue to strengthen the Russian statehood and the legitimacy of its authorities.". 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