The President of Russia Vladimir Putin, apparently, said Thursday that "Patriotic hackers" may have interfered in U.S. elections, but insisted that none of their potential activities not supported by the state.

The Russian leader acknowledged for the first time that any hacker attacks related to the election, may come from his country. In comments to reporters at the St. Petersburg economic forum Putin likened hackers "artists" who could act on behalf of Russia, if it felt its interests threatened.

"(The artists) can act on behalf of their country, they Wake up in a good mood and draw. The same happens with the hackers, they woke up this morning, I read something about the relationship between States. "If they are Patriotic, they contribute what they think is right, to fight those who says bad about Russia", - Putin said.

Russia has repeatedly denied involvement in any attempt to influence the November US presidential election. When Putin was asked whether Russia intervenes in the elections, Putin said in March: "Read my lips: No". He also described the allegations as "fictitious, illusory, false and provocative". "Most importantly, we don't do that at the government level," he said.

However, he said that even if hackers were involved, it is unlikely that they would change foreign elections. "No hacker can influence the electoral campaign in any country, be it Europe, Asia or America."

The US government publicly announced in October that "confident" that Russia organized a burglary of the Democratic national Committee (DNC) and other political organizations of the Democratic party ahead of the elections. And in January, a few days before trump took office, the U.S. intelligence community concluded that Putin ordered a "campaign of influence", intended to strike at the opponent of the Democratic party Hillary Clinton.
sections: Politics, Accidents