The Russian president Vladimir Putin alleged that Kiev is attempting to disrupt the conduct of Russian presidential elections by attacking civilian targets in Russia, and that Ukrainian forces have attempted to infiltrate Russian territory, without success.

“Ukraine is attempting to commit criminal acts on the first day of the presidential election,” Putin claimed. The elections will last until Sunday and will also be held in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.

Putin explained that “these attacks – crimes will not go unpunished” and threatened retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry said this morning that its forces repelled a Ukrainian cross-border attack attempt in Russia’s Belgorod region yesterday.

Earlier today, according to Moscow-appointed officials, two polling stations were shelled by Ukrainian forces in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine’s Kherson province. According to the committee, an unspecified number of people were injured and buildings were damaged.

Reuters could not independently confirm this claim.

Ukraine, EU and NATO have denounced as “illegal” holding these elections in Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine and invalidating the election results there.