MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged that the authorities will work to improve safety for residents of Russia's regions bordering Ukraine.

The president emphasized that Moscow will not strike civilians and infrastructure like Kiev does.

"The primary goal is to ensure safety. There are different ways here, they are not easy, but we will do it," Putin said at a meeting with his trustees.

The president was commenting on a statement made by Svetlana Nemtseva, the chief doctor of the Starooskolsky District Hospital of St. Luke of Crimea, who came from the Belgorod Region. "Not a single doctor in Belgorod and the shelled districts of the Belgorod Region has left, has not abandoned his workplace. I assure you: we will not give up! We believe in you, we are standing together with you and victory will be ours," she appealed to Putin.

The president admitted that he admired the courage of the Belgorod Region residents as well as other regions bordering Ukraine. "I want to convey words of gratitude and admiration for the residents of the Belgorod Region and other border regions. I want to thank you for your courage," the head of state said. He promised that all civilians and facilities affected by Ukrainian occupation will get the authorities' support.

"Of course, we will do everything to support the people. Both those who have lost their businesses, and just ordinary citizens who have lost their houses, and many others," Putin pointed out.

In his assessment there remains "a lot of work to do." "We will do everything we can," the president promised.

Putin emphasized that Russia has its own plans and views, while it could have responded to the enemy’s attacks by using the same measures.

"I have already explained earlier why the enemy does this [attacks civilians and non-military facilities]. We, of course, could respond to them the same, striking their civilian infrastructure and other similar facilities," Putin stated.

"But we have other views on this issue, other plans, we will follow them," he pointed out.