President Vladimir Putin ordered increased counterintelligence in Ukraine and the West amid a series of drone strikes targeting Russian territory on the 28th (local time).
According to AFP and TASS, President Putin instructed the Federal Security Service (FSB) on the same day, saying that Ukraine and Western countries are increasing espionage and sabotage against Russia.
“Western intelligence agencies have traditionally always been secretive in Russia,” Putin said. Now, additional personnel and technology are being put in,” he said. “We must deal with this thoroughly.”
To the FSB, President Putin stated that sabotage groups trying to get into Russia from Ukraine, and Western conspiracies and attempts to revive terrorists and radicals in Russia, and to strengthen infrastructure protection.
In addition, President Putin ordered to block the flow of illegal weapons into Russia and to increase security in the four regions of Ukraine that Russia forcibly annexed.
President Putin said that the FSB needs to strengthen all counterintelligence activities, and sternly stated, “Make sure to protect important information such as Russia’s military, law enforcement agencies, defense industry, important high-tech, and personal information.”
In addition, President Putin emphasized that the secrets related to Russia’s latest weapons and equipment must be kept perfectly.
Previously, drone strikes in Ukraine continued in southern and western Russia bordering Ukraine or as far away as possible.
In addition, Russian TV channels and radio stations were hacked, and the St. Petersburg airport was temporarily closed.
The drone strikes on the night of the 27th and the morning of the 28th targeted areas bordering Ukraine, and one drone crashed just 100km from Moscow.
Local authorities around Moscow said, “The drone fell near the village of Gubastovo, about 100 kilometers southeast of Moscow.”
On the morning of the 28th, Russian forces shot down a Ukrainian drone over the Bryansk region. The Belgorod area was also attacked by three drones on the night of the 27th, causing damage to buildings and cars.
Krasnodar and Adygea regions were also hit by Ukrainian drones. In Krasnodar, two drones fell and set an oil depot on fire.
In Agedia, about 600 km east of the Crimean Peninsula, a drone exploded in the air, damaging some farm buildings.
In Saint Petersburg, the second city about 1,300 km north of the Ukrainian border, all takeoffs and landings at Pulkovo Airport were temporarily suspended at dawn on the 28th.
Social network Telegram reported that the St. Petersburg airport was closed and Russian fighter jets were flying over it.
Meanwhile, Russian media reported that air raid warnings went off in various regions of Russia on the morning of the 28th, and many TV channels and radio broadcasts were stopped.
However, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations explained that this was because some local TV channel services and radio stations had been hacked.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.