ANKARA

A senior Russian lawmaker early Sunday claimed that alleged Ukrainian attacks on journalists in recent months aimed to "intimidate and destroy" those who speak the truth.

Vyacheslav Volodin, head of the Russian State Duma, reiterated claims in a statement on Telegram that Ukraine organized attacks against Russian journalists such as Daria Dugina and Vladlen Tatarsky, who were killed last August and last month, respectively.

Volodin further claimed that Ukraine was also behind the recent "assassination attempt" on Russian writer Zakhar Prilepin, who was injured in a car explosion on Saturday, adding that Russia's Federal Security Service also prevented other such attacks.

Ukraine, still fighting off Russia's 14-month war against its territory, has denied any involvement in the attacks.

Volodin also claimed voices condemning Ukraine's administration "are increasingly being heard" and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his staff are fighting against this "in every way."

He claimed that Ukraine became "Washington's tool in the fight against our country not only on the battlefield, but also on the ideological front."

"Left without the conductors of their ideology, Washington and Brussels are doing everything to crack down on the leaders of public opinion, those who love Russia and defend history and national values," he said.​​​​​​​