Russian strike on Kyiv as Putin's response to Zelenskyy's comments, Expert explains
Photo: Vladimir Putin, Russian leader (kremlin.ru)
There is no need to tie Ukraine's actions to potential reactions from Russia, as the enemy always acts according to its own judgment, the political scientist Oleg Sahakyan says in a comment for the RBC-Ukraine YouTube channel.
Zelenskyy's statement
On December 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to the West to conduct a so-called "high-tech duel" - to place their air defense systems in Kyiv and test whether they could shoot down Oreshnik (the name of a Russian missile - ed.). In response, Zelenskyy stated that Putin's proposal shows the kind of "madmen" Ukraine is fighting against.
Later, Ukraine's President also published a video with Putin's words about the "duel" and called him a "dumb**s."
On December 20, Russian terrorists launched another missile attack on Kyiv. After an air raid alert was announced, several explosions were heard in the city. Fragments of missiles were found in four districts of Kyiv, and the Kyiv City State Administration released photographs of the destruction.
Expert opinion
In response to the question of whether today's Russian attack on Kyiv is linked to Zelensky's statement from yesterday, Sahakyan answered that the enemy regularly shells Ukraine and does not need any specific reason to do so.
"Therefore, Russia can always say 'this is because something else was attacked,' or 'because there are no negotiations,' or 'because there are negotiations,' and so on. We shouldn't tie Russian actions to any steps by Ukraine," explained the expert.
According to Saakyan, the enemy always acts as it deems necessary and feasible. Russia continues to attack Ukraine with missiles because it is allowed to do so, and Moscow feels confident in its impunity.
"If they couldn't afford this now, they wouldn't do it. And then they would justify it by claiming they are showing 'magnanimity,' that it's a 'gesture of goodwill.' And we have repeatedly heard such claims during the Russian-Ukrainian war. So, we don't pay attention to the words from the Kremlin and certainly don't look for justifications for Russian actions from them," emphasized Sahakyan.
