Russia is likely to continue mass drone attacks on Ukraine at least until its September State Duma elections, as the Kremlin seeks to show voters a “picture of victory,” Kyrylo Budanov said in a comment to journalist Halyna Ostapovets.
“Russia has elections approaching. They also need to show their voters some impressive picture of victory, because they do not feel victory on the battlefield. Nor does the whole world,” Budanov said on Aug. 29.
“That is why there is terror. They do not know how to do otherwise. At least until the elections,” he added, referring to continued Shahed drone attacks. “But everyone is also working on countermeasures.”
Russia prepares for September vote
Russia’s State Duma elections are scheduled to take place from Sept. 18-20. Moscow has refused to invite international observers to monitor the vote.
On Tuesday, Russia attacked Ukraine for the third consecutive day with drones, including strikes on Kyiv region.
Drone attacks hit Kyiv region
The latest Russian attacks destroyed a warehouse holding tens of thousands of books from Ukrainian publishers, while warehouses in Bucha district caught fire with detonations reported.
Overnight on Tuesday, Sep. 1, Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region, killing 12 people and injuring at least 18 others, including children.
Kyiv Post reporters heard around a dozen loud explosions and saw flashes in the sky late Monday, moments after Ukraine’s Air Force warned of incoming ballistic missiles, and early Tuesday morning. The Air Force reported a “high-speed target toward Kyiv,” followed by warnings of several targets heading toward the capital, missiles approaching from the south and jet-powered drones moving in from the east.