Russian Embassy in Kiev Attacked

(Baonghean.vn) - On September 17, a group of extremists in Ukraine threw fireworks at the Russian Embassy in the capital Kiev, just one day before a polling station for the Russian State Duma (Lower House) election was to open there.

It is expected that Russian citizens in Kiev will be able to vote at the Russian Embassy and other diplomatic missions here.

Russian Embassy in Kiev attacked. Photo: Youtube.

Ukrainian media posted video images showing about 20 Ukrainian extremists carrying provocative slogans and throwing fireworks at the Russian Embassy.

A day earlier, the Kremlin said Kiev was responsible for ensuring security during Russia's elections. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed that Ukraine was obliged to comply with the Vienna Convention.

Russian President's spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Photo: RT

However, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman stated that Ukraine has no responsibility to ensure the election process of the Russian Federation and that the country's law enforcement system will perform its duties as usual. Regarding the recent incident at the Russian Embassy in Kiev, Mr. Groysman admitted that this was a "hooligan" act, but "it is just a small incident so there is no need to comment".

Relations between Russia and Ukraine became tense in early 2014, after then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown by pro-Western protesters.

The incident led to the annexation of Crimea back to Russia in March 2014 and the subsequent conflict in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian government still considers Crimea its territory and opposes Russia holding State Duma elections there. The US also declared that it does not recognize the legitimacy of the election in Crimea and reaffirmed that the peninsula is still part of Ukraine.

Lan Ha

(According to RT)