Russia accuses Kyiv of election sabotage, Medvedev warns 'traitors'
Russia accuses Kyiv of election sabotage, Medvedev warns 'traitors'
The weekend elections saw Putin retain his position of power, and the Russian foreign ministry has charged Kyiv with sabotaging them.
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In the basement of a demolished apartment building during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a local resident votes in a mobile ballot box next to a security guard in the town of Avdiivka in the Donetsk Region, Russian-controlled Ukraine, on March 16, 2024. (Image: Alexander Ermochenko/REUTERS) |
MOSCOW: On Saturday, March 16, Russia charged Ukraine with deploying "terrorist activities" to attempt to sabotage its presidential election. Former President Dmitry Medvedev denounced as "traitors" the dispersed demonstrators who attempted to pour dye into ballot boxes and set voting booths on fire.
The poll, which is almost set to give President Vladimir Putin six more years in the Kremlin, has been marred by intermittent acts of dissent, but voting has been clouded by the conflict in Ukraine.
The Russian foreign ministry declared that Kyiv had "intensified its terrorist activities" in relation to the election on the second of the three voting days, "to demonstrate its activity to its Western handlers and to beg for even more financial assistance and lethal weapons".
The poll, which is almost set to give President Vladimir Putin six more years in the Kremlin, has been marred by intermittent acts of dissent, but voting has been clouded by the conflict in Ukraine.
The Russian foreign ministry declared that Kyiv had "intensified its terrorist activities" in relation to the election on the second of the three voting days, "to demonstrate its activity to its Western handlers and to beg for even more financial assistance and lethal weapons".
One such event, according to the report, was a Ukrainian drone dropping a shell on a polling place in the Zaporizhzhia area of Ukraine, which is under Russian control.
Before the polls opened in a village approximately 20 km (12 miles) east of the city of Enerhodar, an explosive device detonated five or six meters (yards) from a building holding a polling station. The state-run TASS news agency quoted a local electionhttps://worldviewchroniclenews.blogspot.com/2024/03/russia-accuses-kyiv-of-election.html official as saying that there was neither damage nor injury.
Reuters was unable to independently confirm the occurrence.
Authorities in Ukraine, which considers the election to be unlawful and null and void in areas of its territory under Russian control, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Ella Pamfilova, the chairwoman of the electoral commission, reported that during the first two days of voting, there had been eight attempts at arson, a smoke bomb, and 20 instances of persons attempting to destroy vote papers by pouring different substances into ballot boxes.
In response to the occurrences, Medvedev stated that the perpetrators might receive 20-year sentences for treason.
On social media, he wrote, "This is direct assistance to those degenerates who are shelling our cities today," alluding to attacks by Ukrainians.
Before the polls opened in a village approximately 20 km (12 miles) east of the city of Enerhodar, an explosive device detonated five or six meters (yards) from a building holding a polling station. The state-run TASS news agency quoted a local electionhttps://worldviewchroniclenews.blogspot.com/2024/03/russia-accuses-kyiv-of-election.html official as saying that there was neither damage nor injury.
Reuters was unable to independently confirm the occurrence.
Authorities in Ukraine, which considers the election to be unlawful and null and void in areas of its territory under Russian control, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Ella Pamfilova, the chairwoman of the electoral commission, reported that during the first two days of voting, there had been eight attempts at arson, a smoke bomb, and 20 instances of persons attempting to destroy vote papers by pouring different substances into ballot boxes.
In response to the occurrences, Medvedev stated that the perpetrators might receive 20-year sentences for treason.
On social media, he wrote, "This is direct assistance to those degenerates who are shelling our cities today," alluding to attacks by Ukrainians.
Supporters of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny have called for a nationwide rolling demonstration against Putin at noon on Sunday, the last day to vote, in each of the 11 time zones in the nation.
UKRAINIAN ATTACKS
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was cited by Russian media as saying that Putin has been receiving military reports in the last several days about attempts to breach Russian territory in the border areas of Kursk and Belgorod, including multiple incursion attempts throughout the night.
According to him, "all attacks were repelled," the news outlet Interfax reported.
Two individuals were killed by a Ukrainian missile attack on Saturday, while an oil refinery was set on fire by a different drone strike.
Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced the deaths of a man and a woman as well as one wounded later in the day in the Belgorod region, where cross-border attacks from Ukraine have grown commonplace. He also claimed that Russian defenses shot down fifteen rockets as they approached the regional capital.
According to him, "all attacks were repelled," the news outlet Interfax reported.
Two individuals were killed by a Ukrainian missile attack on Saturday, while an oil refinery was set on fire by a different drone strike.
Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced the deaths of a man and a woman as well as one wounded later in the day in the Belgorod region, where cross-border attacks from Ukraine have grown commonplace. He also claimed that Russian defenses shot down fifteen rockets as they approached the regional capital.
Belgorod city's deserted streets were seen on camera, with fires raging and air raid sirens ringing.
The Syzran refinery was on fire, but an attempt to assault a second refinery was foiled, according to Dmitry Azarov, the governor of the Samara region, which is located 850 kilometers southeast of Moscow.
Hours later, according to officials, the fire was contained, but the episodes showed that Ukraine was capable of attacking Russia's energy sector hundreds of kilometers inside its borders. Drone strikes earlier this week destroyed two more large refineries, cutting off half or more of their output.
Gladkov of the Belgorod area announced that retail centers would close on Monday and Tuesday due to "the current situation" at several of the region's schools. would be closed on Sunday and Monday in Belgorod City.
The Syzran refinery was on fire, but an attempt to assault a second refinery was foiled, according to Dmitry Azarov, the governor of the Samara region, which is located 850 kilometers southeast of Moscow.
Hours later, according to officials, the fire was contained, but the episodes showed that Ukraine was capable of attacking Russia's energy sector hundreds of kilometers inside its borders. Drone strikes earlier this week destroyed two more large refineries, cutting off half or more of their output.
Gladkov of the Belgorod area announced that retail centers would close on Monday and Tuesday due to "the current situation" at several of the region's schools. would be closed on Sunday and Monday in Belgorod City.
On Friday, Russia launched its most devastating attack in recent weeks when its missiles struck a residential neighborhood in the Black Sea port city of Odesa, Ukraine, leaving over 70 people injured and at least 20 dead.
PUTIN'S DOMINANCE
The election does not pose a challenge to Putin's hold on power. At the age of 71, he has dominated Russian politics as president or prime minister since the end of 1999.
The three other candidates on the voting paper, senior Communist Nikolai Kharitonov, nationalist Leonid Slutsky, and deputy head of the lower house of parliament Vladislav Davankov, have not put up a strong fight.
Voter turnout increased above 58% on the second day of the election, which is a crucial sign for Putin as he looks to show that the entire nation supports him.
In the Belgorod region, the percentage exceeded 76%. In the parts of Ukraine under Russian influence, turnout was likewise high.
The three other candidates on the voting paper, senior Communist Nikolai Kharitonov, nationalist Leonid Slutsky, and deputy head of the lower house of parliament Vladislav Davankov, have not put up a strong fight.
Voter turnout increased above 58% on the second day of the election, which is a crucial sign for Putin as he looks to show that the entire nation supports him.
In the Belgorod region, the percentage exceeded 76%. In the parts of Ukraine under Russian influence, turnout was likewise high.
Top election official Pamfilova has called anyone who attempt to obstruct voting "scumbags" and warned them that they might spend up to five years in prison. Her assertion that the recent wave of protests at polling places was the result of Ukrainian intelligence and its "accomplices and handlers"—a reference to the West—was made without offering any supporting data.
United Russia, the ruling party in Russia, announced that it had stopped non-essential services in response to a major denial of service assault, a type of cyberattack designed to stop web traffic.
According to a senior telecom official cited by state news agency RIA, cyberattacks are being blamed on Ukraine and Western nations.
United Russia, the ruling party in Russia, announced that it had stopped non-essential services in response to a major denial of service assault, a type of cyberattack designed to stop web traffic.
According to a senior telecom official cited by state news agency RIA, cyberattacks are being blamed on Ukraine and Western nations.
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