Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted on Wednesday that Ukraine has intensified its assaults on Russian territory with the aim of meddling in the  upcoming presidential elections.

In recent days, Russia has experienced some of the most significant attacks on its soil since its military intervention in Ukraine over two years ago. Multiple oil refineries have been targeted in successive waves of drone strikes. Moreover, on Tuesday, groups of volunteer fighters supportive of Kyiv, comprising Russians opposed to the Kremlin, claimed to have breached the border regions of Kursk and Belgorod in a bold incursion that was eventually repelled.

When questioned about these attacks in an interview, excerpts of which were released on Wednesday, Putin responded, "It's straightforward. All of this is occurring amidst setbacks on the frontline. They failed to achieve any of their objectives from last year." He further stated, "I have no doubt that the primary objective is, if not to disrupt the Russian presidential elections, then to somehow interfere with the regular process," as reported by Ria-Novosti news agency and Rossia 1 television.

Russia is slated to conduct presidential elections from March 15 to 17, with Putin, who has governed the nation since the early 2000s, expected to secure another six-year term.

The escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine have raised concerns about the stability of the region, particularly with the looming presidential elections in Russia. Putin's accusations against Ukraine come at a time when diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict have shown little progress.

The attacks on Russian territory, including the strikes on oil refineries and the border incursions, have heightened fears of further escalation. With the Russian presidential elections just around the corner, the situation remains tense, with both sides trading accusations and rhetoric.

Observers worry that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine could spill over into other regions and exacerbate existing tensions between Moscow and the West. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, hoping for a diplomatic resolution to avoid further destabilization in the region.

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