Russian leader Vladimir Putin has justified the large-scale missile strikes on Ukrainian cities by claiming that the targets are defence industry facilities.

Source:Putin during a meeting with representatives of global news agencies, as reported by RIA Novosti, a Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency

Details:During the meeting with foreign journalists, Putin was asked about the numerous Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, including residential buildings that have caused civilian deaths.

Responding to the question with a smile, Putin said: "If your journalists had seen how entire residential areas were destroyed by our missiles – they probably wouldn't be able to tell you anything about it."

Meanwhile, he again claimed that the Russians strike "defence industry facilities" and not residential areas.

According to Putin, Russia is "demilitarising" Ukraine and he is depriving Ukraine "of the ability to have armed forces that pose a threat to Russia" by conducting missile strikes.

Background: 

• On the night of 16-17 June, Russia launched another large-scale missile and drone strike on Ukraine.
• A Russian ballistic missile hit a nine-storey residential building in Kyiv, completely destroying one section of the block. A total of 28 people were killed and another 134 injured in Kyiv.
• Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv and Kyiv oblasts were also attacked during the night.

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