Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said tonight that Russia has begun a new buildup of troops in some areas of the front line and is still carrying out strikes against targets in Ukraine, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
“Now we are seeing a new buildup of Russian forces in some areas of the front. He refuses to be forced to make peace“, Zelensky said in his evening video address, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Ukrainian head of state did not give further details, but indicated that “Russia continues to strike“.
“Of course, we will respond to this“, Zelensky added. According to him, Russian forces carried out strikes against Ukraine with 150 drones last night, another 50 this morning and “dozens“ tonight. According to him, the new strikes are “accompaniment to Russian statements in China“, referring to the visit of the Russian president to Beijing.
“Yesterday, the Russians flatly rejected what (US President Donald) Trump said: that a leaders' meeting is needed to end the war. In China, Putin continues to invent stories that he is not to blame for the war“, Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president has previously supported Trump's call on several occasions to organize a meeting at the level of heads of state between Ukraine and Russia as a step towards ending the war. Russia says the conditions for such a meeting have not yet been met.
Russia has denied suggestions by Argentine officials that it may have been involved in a wiretapping operation aimed at tarnishing the government of President Javier Milley ahead of parliamentary elections, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
An Argentine judge on Monday banned the media from publishing audio recordings made at the presidential residence “Casa Rosada“, possibly of Carina Milley, the president's sister and chief of staff.
Argentina's security ministry has filed a criminal complaint alleging that illegal recordings were made of government officials, including Carina Milley, as part of an operation to smear the government. The ministry said the political opposition was involved, but also hinted at Russian involvement, accusing Argentines of Russian origin of "carrying out actions to influence the population in favor of Russia's geopolitical interests."
A spokesperson for Milley on the social network "Ex" also suggested that Russian operatives may have been involved in the recordings and in a "broader conspiracy" related to Milley's political opposition, as well as in a "disinformation campaign to overthrow the government."
The Russian embassy denied any involvement and rejected "public speculation" that its intelligence services had recorded phone conversations at the "Casa Rosada."
No evidence was provided to support these allegations. The desire to see "Russian spies" on every corner is irrational and destructive, the Russian embassy in Buenos Aires said.
Milley's government has been facing corruption charges since a series of audio recordings leaked to the news media in August in which the voice of a person alleged to be the former head of Argentina's Agency for People with Disabilities describes a bribery scheme he claims involved Karina Milley.
A federal judge has opened a criminal investigation into the bribery allegations.
The scandal erupted ahead of key midterm elections in October, which are an opportunity for Milley to expand his government from its current minority. The midterm elections are preceded by local elections in Buenos Aires province on September 7, which is currently dominated by the Peronist opposition.