(Kremlin) denies link between Putin-Lukashenko meeting and CIA director's visit to Moscow
Moscow, Aug 30 (KUNA) -- The Russian Presidential Administration (the Kremlin) denied on Sunday any link between Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, in Moscow, and the recent visit to the Russian capital by U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated in a remark that the Putin-Lukashenko meeting “is in no way related” to the American official’s visit, clarifying that Russian-American communications are conducted through separate channels, while Moscow and Minsk continue their close coordination on various issues.
Regarding the situation in Ukraine, Peskov announced that the Russian Armed Forces are continuing to carry out “systematic” strikes against Ukrainian military infrastructure, emphasizing that Russia will respond to attacks targeting its economic sectors and civilian facilities. Russian media quoted the Kremlin as saying that Kyiv has received “more than enough” retaliation for its strikes on Russia’s civilian economic sectors, amid escalating mutual attacks using drones and missiles in recent days.
In this context, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its forces carried out strikes over the past 24 hours targeting military and logistical sites, as well as facilities linked to Ukraine’s fuel and energy sectors, in addition to a “Flamingo” missile launch site and locations for the production and storage of drones. The ministry reported that Russian air defense systems shot down five HIMARS missiles and more than 800 Ukrainian drones during the same period, estimating Ukrainian military losses at approximately 1,425 personnel according to its data. It further stated that Russian forces destroyed a Canadian-made Titan-S armored vehicle for the first time, and announced control over the towns of Velyka Bilozerka and Sadky in the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine.
In a related development, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that air defense systems detected 1,455 drones heading toward the Moscow region between August 22 and 30, with 50 drones destroyed as they approached the capital.
These developments come as the Russian-Ukrainian war sees an escalation in the use of drones and long-range strikes, coinciding with ongoing political communications among the parties involved in seeking a path to resolve the conflict. Moscow maintains that intensified attacks on Russian territory and facilities will be met with military retaliation, while Russian forces continue their military operations on several fronts within Ukrainian territory, according to official Russian statements and data. (End) D.A.N. / F.D.S.
