Ambassador at Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry Rodion Miroshnik claimed that since the beginning of the year, what he described as 'Ukrainian punishers' had killed about '465 people' on the Russian territory, while speaking at a briefing in Moscow on Friday.
"According to the data we have collected and verified, from January 1 to June 30 this year, at least 2,547 civilians suffered from the actions of the Ukrainian punishers, of whom 2,082 suffered wounds and injuries of various degrees of severity. At least 465 people were killed, and the number of civilians killed and injured is only increasing. If from January to March of this year 1,012 civilians were injured, then in the second quarter of 2024 more than 1,535 people became victims of the Nazis, that is, compared to the previous three months, the number of victims has increased by almost a third. In the first three months of this year, 201 civilians were killed, and in April-June another 264 civilians were killed," Miroshnik stated.
The Foreign Ministry representative also alleged that the increased number of civilian casualties was directly related to the increased supply of Western weapons, as well as the permissions Western countries had given for Kiev to use them for strikes on Russian territory.
"Kiev has received a large amount of foreign weapons in recent months, coupled with official permission to use them on Russian regions, which they have taken as a guarantee of impunity from the West for the crimes they are committing and the violation of the norms and principles of international humanitarian law," Miroshnik concluded.
Ukraine has repeatedly and strongly denied targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure during the conflict.
The US, Germany and other EU countries have backed Ukraine's right to use Western weaponry on Russian territory, while some have given Kiev explicit - but often qualified - permission to use their own military equipment for the purpose.
EU High Representative Josep Borrell called Ukraine’s use of Western weapons to hit military facilities in Russia 'legitimate action under international law' if the strikes were launched 'in a proportionate manner', while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said 'Ukraine has the right of self-defence' and that 'some allies have never imposed any restrictions' on strikes inside Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of serious consequences following the move.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow
'Ukrainian punishers' killed at least 465 civilians over past six months - Russian Foreign Ministry
Ambassador at Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry Rodion Miroshnik claimed that since the beginning of the year, what he described as 'Ukrainian punishers' had killed about '465 people' on the Russian territory, while speaking at a briefing in Moscow on Friday.
"According to the data we have collected and verified, from January 1 to June 30 this year, at least 2,547 civilians suffered from the actions of the Ukrainian punishers, of whom 2,082 suffered wounds and injuries of various degrees of severity. At least 465 people were killed, and the number of civilians killed and injured is only increasing. If from January to March of this year 1,012 civilians were injured, then in the second quarter of 2024 more than 1,535 people became victims of the Nazis, that is, compared to the previous three months, the number of victims has increased by almost a third. In the first three months of this year, 201 civilians were killed, and in April-June another 264 civilians were killed," Miroshnik stated.
The Foreign Ministry representative also alleged that the increased number of civilian casualties was directly related to the increased supply of Western weapons, as well as the permissions Western countries had given for Kiev to use them for strikes on Russian territory.
"Kiev has received a large amount of foreign weapons in recent months, coupled with official permission to use them on Russian regions, which they have taken as a guarantee of impunity from the West for the crimes they are committing and the violation of the norms and principles of international humanitarian law," Miroshnik concluded.
Ukraine has repeatedly and strongly denied targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure during the conflict.
The US, Germany and other EU countries have backed Ukraine's right to use Western weaponry on Russian territory, while some have given Kiev explicit - but often qualified - permission to use their own military equipment for the purpose.
EU High Representative Josep Borrell called Ukraine’s use of Western weapons to hit military facilities in Russia 'legitimate action under international law' if the strikes were launched 'in a proportionate manner', while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said 'Ukraine has the right of self-defence' and that 'some allies have never imposed any restrictions' on strikes inside Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of serious consequences following the move.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow
Ambassador at Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry Rodion Miroshnik claimed that since the beginning of the year, what he described as 'Ukrainian punishers' had killed about '465 people' on the Russian territory, while speaking at a briefing in Moscow on Friday.
"According to the data we have collected and verified, from January 1 to June 30 this year, at least 2,547 civilians suffered from the actions of the Ukrainian punishers, of whom 2,082 suffered wounds and injuries of various degrees of severity. At least 465 people were killed, and the number of civilians killed and injured is only increasing. If from January to March of this year 1,012 civilians were injured, then in the second quarter of 2024 more than 1,535 people became victims of the Nazis, that is, compared to the previous three months, the number of victims has increased by almost a third. In the first three months of this year, 201 civilians were killed, and in April-June another 264 civilians were killed," Miroshnik stated.
The Foreign Ministry representative also alleged that the increased number of civilian casualties was directly related to the increased supply of Western weapons, as well as the permissions Western countries had given for Kiev to use them for strikes on Russian territory.
"Kiev has received a large amount of foreign weapons in recent months, coupled with official permission to use them on Russian regions, which they have taken as a guarantee of impunity from the West for the crimes they are committing and the violation of the norms and principles of international humanitarian law," Miroshnik concluded.
Ukraine has repeatedly and strongly denied targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure during the conflict.
The US, Germany and other EU countries have backed Ukraine's right to use Western weaponry on Russian territory, while some have given Kiev explicit - but often qualified - permission to use their own military equipment for the purpose.
EU High Representative Josep Borrell called Ukraine’s use of Western weapons to hit military facilities in Russia 'legitimate action under international law' if the strikes were launched 'in a proportionate manner', while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said 'Ukraine has the right of self-defence' and that 'some allies have never imposed any restrictions' on strikes inside Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of serious consequences following the move.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow