Call Russophobia, Russia: Portugal Embassy In Kiev Damaged Due To Ukraine's Air Defense

JAKARTA - Russia denies reports that the Portuguese Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine was damaged by a Russian military attack.

Russia confirmed that the damage to the Portuguese Embassy building was due to Ukraine's air defense.

"We note that various Portuguese media have actively spread reports of damage to the Portuguese Embassy in Kiev as a result of the attack by the Russian Armed Forces on the city's military facility on December 20. Journalists increased Russophobia, distorting the facts while writing about the matter," read a statement from the Russian Embassy in Portugal, Sunday 22 December, quoted from Tass.

According to Russia, a number of Portuguese media have openly distorted the true facts about Ukraine's air defenses as a result of the damage to the Portuguese Embassy in Kiev.

"The damage to the building where Portugal's diplomatic mission was located was caused by Ukraine's air defense system which has proven its 'efficiencies' many times," said the embassy.

The Russian Embassy emphasized that Ukraine uses civilians as shields for deliberately placing military facilities and air defense systems in urban areas.

The Russian embassy later claimed Russian troops were only targeting military industrial facilities and infrastructure.