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Russia may strike Ukraine’s government buildings if Kiev gets rocket systems — lawmaker

Andrey Kartapolov recalled that not a single strike had been carried out at the buildings of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the General Staff, the Verkhovna Rada and other ministries

YEREVAN, June 6. /TASS/. Russia will respond to the supply of multiple launch rocket systems and long-range missiles to Ukraine by targeting transport infrastructure facilities and government buildings, Head of the State Duma (the lower house of parliament) Defense Committee Andrey Kartapolov told reporters on Monday.

"As our president and supreme commander-in-chief [Vladimir Putin] has said, Russia will respond by conducting attacks on the targets that we haven’t hit yet," he said in response to a question.

"Kiev’s airport continues to operate, <…> rail terminals and main railway lines also continue to operate, as well as highway bridges and many other facilities, to say nothing of government agencies, because not a single strike has been carried out at the buildings of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the General Staff, the [Verkhovna] Rada (parliament) and other ministries where decisions are made and goals are set," Kartapolov noted.

On June 1, the US authorities announced another package of military aid to Ukraine, which includes HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems. US officials pointed out that Ukraine had assured Washington that those rocket systems would not be used to strike targets inside Russia. Officials added that the range of the rocket launchers would not exceed 80 kilometers. However, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on June 2 that Kiev’s assurances were worthless and could not be trusted. The United Kingdom, in turn, announced plans to provide Ukraine with M270 multiple launch rocket systems that are capable of hitting targets 70 kilometers away. The UK said that the move had been coordinated with the US.