PUTIN: RUSSIAN TROOPS MAKING DAILY ADVANCES ACROSS ENTIRE SPECIAL OPERATION ZONE

ASTANA, MAY 29 /SRNA-RIA Novosti/ - Russian troops are advancing in all directions within the zone of the special military operation, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated.

"Our troops are advancing in all directions, every day", Putin told reporters.

He added that Russia needs to strengthen its air defense system and that work on this is underway.

Putin said Russia's strike on the Kyiv region was a response to an attack by Ukrainian forces on Starobelsk.

He described European media coverage of the Ukrainian airstrike on Starobelsk as shameful and said journalists should be ashamed for remaining silent about the attack on the Lugansk People's Republic.

Putin described Western media as "means of mass deception".

The Russian president also stated that there are currently no negotiations on ending the Ukrainian crisis and that he cannot say how long the conflict will continue.