Putin Accuses Ukraine of "Barbarism," Pledges Commitment to Democracy Ahead of State Duma Elections

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a congress of the ruling United Russia party, claimed that the more difficult the situation becomes for the enemy on the front line, the more "barbaric" its strikes grow. His remarks were aimed at Ukraine amid a sharp rise in mutual attacks that are killing and wounding people on both sides of the conflict on an almost daily basis.

Ukrainian strikes in recent weeks have increasingly disrupted Russian infrastructure, bringing the consequences of a war now in its fifth year closer to the everyday lives of ordinary Russians. The Kremlin's situation has been further complicated by a fuel crisis and outages at Wildberries, a major online retailer used daily by millions of Russians.

Strikes escalate on both sides

Russian attacks on military and civilian targets have continued unabated since the earliest days of the invasion and have only intensified in recent months. A strike on a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih killed 14 people and wounded more than 120. "This is a complete act of Russian savagery. We will respond," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address.

On Thursday, Moscow launched one of its largest attacks on Kyiv in recent months — waves of strikes continued through the night, day and evening, killing at least 15 people. According to available reports, Ukraine is running short of ammunition for its Patriot air defense systems, making it increasingly difficult to intercept ballistic missile attacks.

A Russian missile strike on the village of Pechenihy in Kharkiv region killed at least ten people and wounded 17 others. In response, Ukrainian drones struck Russian industrial facilities near the border with Kazakhstan and in occupied Crimea — an explosion in Sevastopol killed five people. These are only a fraction of the strikes carried out over the past week.

According to the United Nations, Russian attacks killed 265 Ukrainian civilians in July — the highest monthly toll of the entire war. Russian authorities reported that 250 civilians were killed and 1,596 wounded in the country during the first six months of the year, though the UN has been unable to verify these figures.

Shifting mood among Russians

As in previous speeches, Putin reassured his audience of his confidence in a victorious conclusion to the "special military operation." Yet in recent months, signs have emerged — both within the regime and among the population — that this confidence is wavering.

Polling data shows that a majority of Russians now support peace talks and an end to the fighting. According to the Ukrainian think tank ISW-CIT (Institute for the Study of Conflicts and Analysis of Russia), by late June eight out of ten Russians favored peace — the highest level recorded since the start of the full-scale invasion. Nevertheless, Putin has shown no willingness to take that step: peace negotiations remain stalled, and Moscow continues to insist on its original demands.

Elections as a showcase of stability

Part of Putin's address was devoted to the upcoming State Duma elections, set to take place in less than a month. "Even under the most difficult circumstances, Russia will not abandon the principles of democracy and will hold elections at every level," he declared, openly throwing his support behind United Russia.

According to Putin, the elections will confirm "the stability of the state, the maturity of the political system, and its ability to withstand any external threats, blackmail, and aggression." Few doubt the outcome: United Russia is expected to remain the dominant force in the Duma and likely retain its constitutional majority. Notably, for the first time in its history, the party has openly branded itself "Putin's party" during this campaign — a link that has existed unofficially for years.

The regime is using the Duma elections as a tool to present Russia as a democratic state. Just a week earlier, Russia's Supreme Court banned the liberal Yabloko party — a long-standing critic of the war — from participating in the vote. Despite the Kremlin's tight grip on the electoral process, the results could still reveal the true extent of public discontent with the regime.

Source: seznamzpravy.cz