Judging To Convey A Unilateral Version Of War, The Russian Ministry Of Defense Reminds Western Media: We Have Provided Complete Evidence

Spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense Major General Igor Konashenkov. (Twitter/@MajorGeneralIg1)

JAKARTA - Russia again says Western media has given a one-sided version of war, while ignoring the Russian narrative, regarding Moscow's invasion of Ukraine which began on February 24.

One of the sharpest highlights of this war is the attacks that have left civilians injured and killed, although Russia continues to deny deliberately targeting civilians.

"We would like to remind Western media once again: we have provided complete evidence showing that the Kyiv nationalist regime has used civilian objects in residential areas of Kyiv and in other cities as firing positions for artillery and rocket systems," said Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov, reported by Reuters March 22.

Furthermore, Major General Konashenkov said the Russian operation was being carried out by professional and fully armed forces, refuting Ukraine's claim that Russian forces had targeted civilian objects.

In addition, Major General Konashenkov also rejected Ukraine's claims about the loss of Russian personnel and equipment, calling it a propaganda lie.

Buildings in Ukraine that were hit by the Russian attack. (Wikimedia Commons/dsns.gov.ua/State Emergency Service of Ukraine)

As previously reported, Russia said on Monday it had attacked a Kyiv, Ukrainian shopping center with a high-precision long-range weapon, as it is being used as a rocket depot and reloading station by Ukrainian forces.

"The area near the shopping center is used as a large base for storing rocket ammunition and for reloading several rocket launchers," Major General Konashenkov said.

The force of the explosion obliterated a structure in a shopping center parking lot and gutted an adjacent 10-story building, shattering windows in a residential tower block in the vicinity.

"The Russians opened fire on our shopping center. The mall and residential buildings around it have suffered severe damage," said Mykola Medinskiy, an army chaplain.

He added that there were no strategic military objects in the area. Reuters was not immediately able to verify the comments. Russia denies targeting civilians.

The drama theater in Mariupol, Ukraine was hit by a Russian attack. (Wikimedia Commons/Донецька обласна ова адміністрація)

In addition to Major General Konashenkov's warning, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov expressed his sincere hope that the US-based media would stop inciting what he described as Russophobia and move to publish their reporting impartially.

“We hope that the American press will stop inciting Russophobia and will present its assessment in an impartial manner,” Antonov said in comments for Newsweek, which were posted to Facebook by the Russian Embassy in the United States.

He also assessed that most Western media impose a one-sided perception on the audience about the ongoing events in Ukraine, consistently presenting Russia as the aggressor.

Antonov noted that US television channels did not cover the Ukrainian troops that attacked Donetsk on March 14, calling him a feeling no one cared.

Earlier, Russian troops were said to have bombed an art school on Saturday where 400 residents were sheltering, but the number of victims was not yet known, the Mariupol council said. Reuters could not independently verify the claims. Meanwhile, Russia denies targeting civilians.

A maternity hospital was bombed last week, sending patients fleeing into the street. A theater used to protect families forced from their homes was also hit, although the word "children" was written outside in large enough letters for pilots to read (Russian warplanes).

Last week, an attack by Russian troops on a theater that houses 1.200 women and children drew strong condemnation and led to President Putin being rated a war criminal by Ukraine and US President Joe Biden.