Ukraine is certain to face retaliation for its large-scale offensive on Kursk Region last week, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has said.
Speaking at a meeting of the ruling United Russia party on Tuesday, Medvedev, who is the party's chairman as well as heading Russia's Security Council, weighed in on Ukraine’s attack on Kursk Region, which has become Kiev’s largest assault on Russian territory since the outbreak of the conflict. Moscow has called the assault a provocation, accusing Kiev of indiscriminate strikes on civilians.
While affirming that Russian authorities should do their best to help the thousands of evacuees who have been forced to leave their homes, he claimed that Ukraine would “undoubtedly receive a deserved punishment.”
This retaliation, he added, “envisages very different kinds of ramifications for those who have done this, including for the leadership of the Kiev nationalist regime.”
While the former president did not elaborate on the nature of such a response, The Times reported on Monday, citing a Ukrainian official, that Kiev was bracing for “an aggressive response” from Russia, which could include striking high-priority targets in the capital.
In the past, Russia frequently responded to what it called Ukraine “terrorist attacks” on civilians by launching high-precision strikes targeting decision-making centers, defense industry and energy facilities, logistics centers, and deployment areas. Moscow maintains that its attacks never target civilians.
The Russian Defense Ministry has said that the Ukrainian advance has been halted, estimating enemy losses at up to 2,000 service members and more than 200 armored vehicles
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the attack on Kursk Region was intended to divert attention from Donbass, where Moscow's troops have been making steady gains. Putin also ruled out any talks with Kiev as long as it continues to attack civilian targets.