Russian President: Ukraine's attacks "have not achieved a turning point in the confrontation" with Russia

Moscow, August 22 (KUNA) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Ukrainian attacks on targets inside Russia “have not achieved a turning point in the confrontation,” stressing that Russian forces had intensified strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities in response to attacks on their logistical infrastructure. In an interview with Russia 1 TV channel, President Putin said that Russian strikes on targets and facilities in Ukraine were “effective and timely,” disrupting the Ukrainian forces’ ability to transport equipment and ammunition and deploy troops, while also undermining the defense industry’s capacity to develop weapons. He affirmed that Russia’s response to Ukrainian attacks targeting facilities and logistical supplies had been “more sensitive and destructive,” noting that Moscow had intensified targeting of Ukrainian military-industrial companies. Putin said that Kyiv and its Western backers “have not gained any advantage” in confronting Russia and would not be able to do so in the future, dismissing talk of the possibility of “defeating Russia within 40 days” as “another adventure” by Kyiv and its Western patrons. On economic matters, Putin stressed that the Ukrainian economy was “on the verge of collapse,” including the agricultural sector, which represents a major source of income. He added that Russia was capable of exporting at least 60 million tons of wheat and that there would be no shortage of grain in the global market due to Ukrainian export issues. Putin’s remarks come as the Russian-Ukrainian war sees escalating mutual aerial attacks and strikes on strategic depth, with Moscow and Kyiv exchanging accusations of targeting civilian facilities and infrastructure. The war between Russia and Ukraine has continued since February 2022, amid political and diplomatic efforts to reach a settlement to the conflict, alongside ongoing military operations, long-range attacks, and Western support for Ukraine. (End) D.A.N / A.M.S