Vladimir Putin insists Russia will achieve its ‘noble’ goals in Ukraine

President dismisses killing of civilians in Bucha by Russian forces as fake'

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Vladimir Putin has insisted that his bloody campaign in Ukraine will continue until its noble" goals have been achieved, arguing that the invasion was proceeding as planned, despite fierce Ukrainian resistance and heavy losses among Russian forces.

We will achieve our objectives, there are no doubts," Putin told workers at the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russia's far east, in his first public comments on the war since his forces were forced to retreat from northern Ukraine more than a week ago.