Russia’s Defense Ministry has criticized the Ukrainian government for distributing weapons to civilians, saying it will “inevitably lead to accidents and casualties”.
“The nationalist regime in Kiev is massively and uncontrollably distributing automatic light weapons, grenade launchers and ammunition to residents of Ukrainian settlements,” Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said in a statement on Saturday. “The involvement of the Ukrainian civilian population by the nationalists in hostilities will inevitably lead to accidents and casualties.”
In the statement, the Russian Defense Ministry also said its troops had been ordered to resume the offensive “in all directions” after the suspension order due to negotiations with the Ukrainian government. Follow the special coverage of CNN.
Russia says it does not target civilians or civilian infrastructure. However, there are reports of residential buildings and kindergarten spaces being bombed, as well as civilians killed and rockets found on residential streets since the start of the offensive.
Videos from social networks, photos and satellite images analyzed and geolocated by CNN international authorities point out that, on several occasions, densely populated areas were hit by Russian forces.
European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said on Saturday that he “strongly” condemns Russian attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.
Konashenkov also repeated allegations that the Ukrainian military was deploying heavy military equipment in civilian areas.
“Our intelligence data continues to record the deployment of rocket and artillery units by Ukrainian nationalists in residential areas not only in Kiev, but also in other Ukrainian cities,” he said.
“We urge the people of Ukraine to be conscientious, not to succumb to these provocations by the Kiev regime and not to expose themselves and their loved ones to unnecessary suffering,” concluded Konashenkov.
Source: CNN Brasil
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