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Service members of pro-Russian troops clear mines around the Azovstal steel plant, Mariupol, Ukraine. The city of Mariupol has been occupied by Moksow troops. Photo/REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko
The Minister of Defense Shoigu made this confession, who continues to use the narrative of special military operations, not war, on Tuesday (24/5/2022).
According to Shoigu, the Russian Armed Forces are creating humanitarian corridors and announcing a ceasefire to ensure the safe evacuation of citizens from besieged settlements, although this approach hinders the advance of Moscow troops.
“Of course, this slowed the pace of attacks, but it was done on purpose to avoid civilian casualties,” he said at a meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), as quoted by Reuters. Russia Today.
Read also: Ukrainian Military Attacks Russian Troops with Heavy Artillery
Contrary to the claims of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Shoigu said that Russian forces did not carry out attacks on civilian infrastructure where people might be nearby.
Instead, he said, identified firing positions and Ukrainian military facilities were attacked with high-precision weapons.
The defense minister also noted that Western countries, fearing the defeat of the Kiev troops, accelerated the delivery of lethal aid to Ukraine and sent military advisers and personnel from private military companies. He added that the number of foreign mercenaries in the country had exceeded 6,000.
However, despite the sanctions against Moscow and the extensive assistance provided to Kiev by the West, Shoigu stated that Russia would continue special military operations until all of its objectives were achieved.
He reiterated that the current situation in Ukraine is the result of the West’s refusal to consider Russia’s proposals to resolve key issues concerning its national security, which include halting NATO expansion into the east and the absence of combat weapons near Russia’s borders.
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