The Russian embassy in Kyiv was attacked.

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

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

The Russian embassy in Kyiv was attacked. Photo: Youtube.

Ukrainian media published video footage showing approximately 20 Ukrainian extremists carrying inflammatory slogans and throwing fireworks at the Russian embassy.

The previous day, the Kremlin declared that Kyiv was responsible for ensuring security during the Russian elections. Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, stressed that Ukraine had an obligation to abide by the Vienna Convention.

Russian President's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Photo: RT

However, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman stated that Ukraine has no responsibility to guarantee the Russian Federation's election process and that its law enforcement system will perform its duties as usual. Regarding the recent incident at the Russian Embassy in Kyiv, Groysman acknowledged it as an act of "thuggishness," but said it was "just a minor incident and therefore requires no comment."

Relations between Russia and Ukraine became strained from the beginning of 2014, following the overthrow of then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych by pro-Western protesters.

The incident led to the annexation of Crimea back into the Russian Federation in March 2014 and subsequently the outbreak of conflict in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian government still considers Crimea its territory and opposes Russia holding elections for the State Duma there. The United States has also stated that it does not recognize the legitimacy of the elections in Crimea and reaffirms that the peninsula remains part of Ukraine.

Lan Ha

(According to RT)