MOSCOW. March 15 (Interfax) - Ukraine has struck a number of Russian border areas on the first day of the Russian presidential election in order to intimidate the population, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"As is known, a presidential election began in our country today in accordance with the Russian Constitution. To disrupt the voting process [and] intimidate people in at least those areas which border Ukraine, the neo-Nazi regime in Kiev has conceived and is trying to carry out a number of criminal, demonstrative armed actions," Putin said at a meeting with permanent members of the Russian Security Council on Friday.
The strikes were primarily carried out on peaceful Russian towns and villages, he said.
"Around 95% of enemy missiles and shells are destroyed by our air defense systems," Putin said.