“We can safely say, military intelligence published documents revealing Ukrainian intentions before the Russian military operation in the east of that country,” he commented in his remarks to the 11th St. Petersburg International Legal Forum.

Bastrikin emphasized that Moscow acted in accordance with the Constitution in launching the military operation based on Article 79.1, which outlines the need to “take measures to maintain and strengthen international peace and security, ensure peaceful coexistence of states and peoples and prevent interference in the internal affairs of the state.”

Since February 24, 2022 Russia has been conducting a special military operation in Ukraine, which aims to demilitarize and denazify the neighboring country for the protection of citizens in the east.

jrr/jav/hoo