Russia says military taking measures to eliminate threat of shelling from Ukraine

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia has been taking measures to eliminate the threat of Ukrainian shelling on cities, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Peskov said Russia continues its "special military operation" in Ukraine for this purpose.

"Our military will continue to do everything to minimize this danger first, and then completely get rid of it. A special military operation is underway for this purpose. The Kyiv regime does not shy away from shelling civilian targets, does not shy away from using cluster munitions, shooting at the city center, where there are no military facilities," he stressed.

Peskov emphasized that Ukraine is shelling Russia with weapons provided by the Western countries.

"I would like to draw your attention to the fact that on our territory and on civilian objects, in the center of the city of Belgorod on New Year's Eve, shells and missiles are constantly being fired, which were produced in Germany, France, Italy, the US and other countries. Let's not forget about this," he said.

Both Russia and Ukraine have recently accused each other of intensification of air attacks.

On Jan. 1, President Vladimir Putin said his country will not let “a single crime of this kind” go unpunished following an unprecedented raid on the Russian city of Belgorod, which killed 25 people and wounded many others, a day after Kyiv said Moscow launched missiles and drones on Ukrainian cities.