“Right-wing Banderites and neo-Nazis in Ukraine are putting up heavy weapons, including multiple launch rocket systems, right in the central districts of major cities, including Kiev and Kharkiv,” Vladimir Putin said in a statement issued to the world.
“Do not let Banderites and Neo-nazis use your children and wives and the elderly as human shields. Take power into your own hands, it looks like it is us who will do better at negotiating.”
The Russian FM Sergey Lavrov meanwhile insisted Russia is not carrying out strikes at any civilian infrastructure in Ukraine but will ensure the demilitarization of the country during the operation, after which the situation in Ukraine will return to negotiations.
The Ukrainian president, meanwhile, claimed that the death toll stands at 137 soldiers and civilians, with 316 wounded.
He said that over 100,000 displaced people according to the UN refugee agency and Ukrainian Armed Forces fired at three DPR settlements with heavy weapons, with two dead and 12 wounded in the region, DPR officials state
He said that Ukrainian forces have hit a military airfield in Millerovo in the Rostov region of Russia with a Tochka-U missile.
The Russian Defence Ministry has also released an Update on Ukraine’s war.
The Ministry said that DPR and LPR forces are moving deeper into Ukrainian territory. The statement by the ministry said that 118 Ukrainian military installations have been taken out of action – including 11 military airfields, 13 communication junctions, 14 anti-aircraft systems and 36 radar stations
The Ministry claimed that 5 military planes, 18 tanks, 7 multiple-launch rocket systems, 41 military vehicles, and 5 fast attack crafts have been destroyed, as well as one helicopter and 5 unmanned drones.
They claimed that 150 Ukrainian soldiers from various branches and services have thrown down their weapons and are on their way back to their families.