A BBC journalist has challenged Russian president Vladimir Putin over his country’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
In a televised press conference, the BBC's Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg asked the president about “justice, stability and security” in Russia been following its invasion of Ukraine.
Rosenberg also asked the Russian president about recent MI5 intelligence reports that suggest Russia is trying to wreak havoc by creating "sustained mayhem on British and European streets".
Head of MI5 Ken McCallum this month said Russian agents have carried out “arson, sabotage and more dangerous actions” in Britain amid the UK’s support for Ukraine.
Putin responded to Rosenberg’s question by laughing, saying: “Well, this is utter rubbish.”
The BBC journalist also highlighted the impact the war on Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, has had upon Russia.
“Before the beginning of the special military operation, there were no drone attacks against Russian territory, no shelling of Russian cities, no foreign troops occupying Russian territory” he said, in Russian. “It wasn't there.”
Putin responded by saying the Nato expansion in eastern Europe “violates” Russia’s security, and suggested it was not “fair”.
“I understand what you are talking about,” he told Rosenberg. “But in terms of security, is it fair that for years our constant appeals to partners not to expand Nato to the east have been ignored?
“Is it fair to lie to our face, promising that there will be no such expansion and violating their obligations and their promises to do that? Is it fair to get into our underbelly, like into Ukraine, and start building not just preparing but building military bases? Is that fair?
“Is it fair to conduct a coup...disregarding international law, all principles of international law and the UN charter? Financing a coup in a different country, in this case in Ukraine, pushing the situation for it to develop into a hot phase.
“Is it fair in terms of global security?...We told them, don't do it. It violates our security, this Nato expansion. No - they still they did it. Is that fair? There is no justice here. And we want to change this situation. And we'll achieve it.”
Meanwhile Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that Russia plans to deploy North Korean troops to the battlefield next week, citing intelligence reports.
“According to intelligence, the first North Korean soldiers are expected to be deployed by Russia to combat zones as early as October 27-28. This is a clear escalation by Russia,” Mr Zelensky said on X after receiving reports from his top commander.
Mr Zelensky did not say which frontline sector North Korean soldiers are expected to be sent to or give any other details.
Ukrainian military intelligence said on Thursday that the first North Korean units had already been recorded in Russia’s Kursk border region, where the Ukrainian military has been operating since staging a major incursion in August.
Around 12,000 North Korean troops, including 500 officers and three generals, were already in Russia, and training was taking place on five military bases, it said.
The United States said that it had seen evidence of North Korean troops in Russia, and South Korean lawmakers said about 3,000 soldiers had been sent to support the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, with more to follow.
