Putin accuses Ukraine of trying to disrupt 'elections' in Russia, promises retaliation

Russian leader Vladimir Putin says Ukraine is allegedly striking at peaceful settlements in Russia to disrupt the presidential 'elections'

This is reported by the Russian service of the BBC.

"In order to disrupt the voting process, to intimidate people at least in the regions bordering Ukraine, the Kyiv neo-Nazi regime has planned and is trying to carry out a series of criminal and demonstrative armed actions. This is, first of all, striking at peaceful settlements on the territory of the Russian Federation," Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with the permanent members of the Russian Security Council.

According to the Russian leader, Ukraine is allegedly trying to disrupt the "elections." Putin also said that the strikes would not go unpunished.

• In the temporarily occupied territories, in particular in Dzhankoi, Crimea, the invading Russian forces are planning to carry out a series of provocations and terrorist attacks at polling stations and blame the pro-Ukrainian population for this.