Admits Russia's Military Campaign In Ukraine Slows Down, Defense Minister: Reducing Civilian Casualties

JAKARTA - Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia's military campaign in Ukraine was slowing down, deliberately to avoid civilian casualties, at a meeting of member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Wednesday.

"We strictly adhere to humanitarian law during special operations. Attacks were carried out with high-precision weapons against the military infrastructure facilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including command points, airfields, depots, fortified areas, and defense industrial sites", explained Minister Shoigu as launched TASS on August 24.

"At the same time, every effort is being made to prevent civilian casualties. This is certainly slowing progress, but we are doing it consciously", continued Minister Shoigu.

He further said Russian troops were "engaged in systematic work to restore peaceful life in the liberated areas."

"We are providing humanitarian assistance to residents, restoring infrastructure facilities and life support systems", he said.

On the occasion, Minister Shoigu also said "Ukrainian armed forces are using scorched earth tactics, blatantly violating international law and acting like terrorists."

"They set up firing positions in residential buildings, schools, hospitals, and kindergartens, deployed tanks and artillery there, and used civilians as human shields", Minister Shoigu criticized.

"They deliberately opened fire on settlements and dropped Lepestok anti-personnel landmines, with the clear aim of causing as much damage as possible to civilians and civilian infrastructure facilities", he concluded.