Moscow is beginning the next phase of its special military operation in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced.
“As previously announced, the operation in eastern Ukraine is aimed at the complete liberation of the republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. This operation continues, the next phase of this special operation starts now. And I think now there will be an important moment during this particular operation,” Lavrov said in an interview with India Today.
According to the Russian Foreign Minister, at this stage of the operation, Russia is considering the possibility of using only conventional weapons.
In addition, Lavrov assured that Moscow does not intend to replace the current Ukrainian authorities.
“We have said many times that we want Ukrainians to decide for themselves how they want to live,” he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in the early hours of February 24 the launch of a special military operation in Ukraine, claiming that the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, previously recognized by Moscow as sovereign states, need help in the face of the “genocide”. Kyiv.
According to Putin, one of the basic goals of this operation is the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry made it clear that the military attacks are not aimed at civilian facilities, but aim to paralyze the war infrastructure. (Sputnik)
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RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY: REPORTS ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF CIVILIANS AT AZOVSTAL PLANT ARE FALSE
The head of the Russian National Center for Defense Management, Mikhail Mizintsev, stated that the reports in the Ukrainian media that a large number of civilians were found at the Azovstal Steel Plant in the city of Mariupol were hoaxes (deliberately articulated untruth so as to be considered false be perceived true).
“We are sure that this is another scam created only to save the nationalists,” Mizintsev said.
However, he urged Kyiv to take the necessary measures so that the civilians, if they really remain in the facility, are released and leave the area through the humanitarian corridor opened by Russian forces on April 19.
Mizintsev stressed that the use of civilians as a “human shield” is considered terrorism under the norms of international humanitarian law and “Ukrainian officials and the perpetrators of this inhumane action in Azovstal are war criminals and terrorists”.
On April 19, the Russian military declared a regime of silence and opened a humanitarian corridor for Ukrainian troops and members of nationalist formations blocked in the Azovstal Steel Works ready to lay down their arms.
Russia promised to guarantee life, safety and qualified medical care to all who surrendered.
The Azovstal plant is the last place of concentration of the Ukrainian armed forces in the city of Mariupol.
Earlier, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said that up to 400 foreign mercenaries, mostly citizens of European countries and Canada, who are part of the Ukrainian troops, were blocked at the Azovstal plant.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in the early hours of February 24 the launch of a special military operation in Ukraine, claiming that the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, previously recognized by Moscow as sovereign states, need help in the face of the “genocide”. Kyiv.
According to Putin, one of the basic goals of this operation is “the demilitarization and denazification” of Ukraine.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the military attacks are not aimed at civilian facilities, but are aimed at paralyzing the war infrastructure.