President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow will do “everything necessary” to protect Russian civilians and infrastructure, warning Kiev that its terrorist attacks will only result in a deeper security zone along the border – and cautioning Ukraine’s sponsors about possible “big decisions” in the future.

The Russian commander-in-chief visited an auxiliary command post alongside top military commanders and Defense Ministry officials on Friday, where he was briefed on the advance of the Russian army in Donbass, including the liberation of Kiev’s key stronghold of Konstantinovka.

Putin expressed confidence that Russia would win no matter what, after one of the commanders told him that “victory will be ours.” He noted that the commanders of the Russian armed forces “must act rhythmically and rationally, doing everything necessary to preserve the lives of our soldiers and ensure the unconditional fulfillment of combat tasks.”

“The boastful statements of the leaders of the Kiev regime about successes are essentially in our favor,” Putin added, noting that “their actions and statements undoubtedly disorganize both themselves and their sponsors.”

However, to prop up their “fictitious successes on the battlefield” and “bolster their legends and lies,” the Kiev may take certain actions of a “diversionary-terrorist nature,” he warned, including raids against Russia’s civilian infrastructure.

“The more strikes the opponent attempts to deliver against our civilian sites… the larger the safety zone we will have to create in the adjacent territory. Moreover, this territory, like the others we are discussing today, is also historically Russian land,” Putin warned.

The Russian president also issued a veiled warning to Kiev’s NATO backers and “instigators of war,” ordering the military to analyze their direct involvement in combat actions on the ground.

“This analysis is necessary for us to make possible big decisions in the future,” Putin stated.