The minister, who gave a keynote speech at Russia’s military department on Tuesday, added that those measures drag North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries into the conflict and may lead to an unpredictable escalation.

Despite efforts, the weapons and equipment supplied to the Ukrainian Government are destroyed by Russian troops, both at the routes of their delivery and at combat positions, the senior official stressed.

The defense minister said Russia would continue to ensure its citizens’ safety in the new regions and protect Ukrainian residents from Kiev’s actions.

Shoigu noted that currently, after the offensive actions of the Russian troops in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia areas, the localities of Soledar, Klescheyevka, Podgornovoye, Krasnopolie, Blagodatnye, Lobkovoye, and Nikolayevka were liberated.

jrr/iff/lam/gfa