“We strictly comply with the norms of humanitarian law. The attacks are carried out with high-precision weapons against the military infrastructure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (…)”

“We also do everything possible to avoid casualties among the civilian population,” the military minister said in a meeting with his counterparts from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Shoigu explained that the Russian military in the territories under its control provide all humanitarian assistance and restore civilian infrastructure and life support.

However, he repudiated the fact that the Ukrainian military “apply the policy of scorched earth, flagrantly violate international laws and act as terrorists.”

The Minister argued that Kiev’s troops use residential buildings and civilian facilities, including hospitals and nurseries, to set up firing positions and deploy armored vehicles and artillery, and use the civilian population as a human shield.

The Defense Minister also stated that the activities of the Ukrainian military seek to “cause the greatest possible damage to civilians and infrastructure.”

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