Putin claims Ukraine attacked polling stations in Russia

Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has claimed that Ukraine carried out strikes on polling stations in Moscow on the night of 19-20 September.

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency TASS, broadcasting Putin's press conference on 25 September

Details: Putin claimed that Ukraine had disrupted all negotiations that had been taking place in Istanbul, but had announced its readiness to resume the talks ahead of Russia's elections.

Quote: "Indeed, we said that negotiations would hardly be possible before the State Duma [lower chamber of the Russian parliament – ed.] elections, but after that we would be ready to resume these engagements. But what has happened recently is also well known: on the night of 19-20 September – on the main voting day – there was an attempted large-scale attack on Moscow.

More than 1,600 drones entered the Moscow zone. Polling stations were hit."

Details: Putin complained that a school housing a polling station had supposedly been hit and was "practically destroyed". The Russian leader also claimed that the homes of polling station heads had come under attack.

He said all proposals for a peaceful settlement are "on the table", but Russia still needs to consider what is in its interests.

Putin also stressed that Kyiv has no way to counter Geran drones and said Kyiv should "feel the response" through attacks on "civilian infrastructure".

Background:

• On the night of 19-20 September, Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Moscow and Moscow Oblast. A major fire broke out at the Sofyino logistics technopark. The Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district also caught fire following the attack.
• Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called it the largest-scale drone attack on the Russian capital.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the defence forces used a number of Ukrainian long-range weapons during the overnight attack on Moscow Oblast, including Flamingo, Palianytsia and Pelican.
• The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that three units at the Moscow Oil Refinery had been damaged in the strike.

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Originally reported by Ukrainska Pravda by Tetyana Oliynyk. Read the full story at the source.