New Delhi: No Russian soldier was fighting on Ukrainian soil, the country’s embassy to India said, underlining that such operations were being carried out by the militia of Donbas, the pro-Moscow region that has broken away from Ukraine.
Spokesperson of the Russian Embassy in India, Dmitry Solodov, also said his country plans no regime change in Ukraine, adding, “US has such plans for other countries.”
Solodov said Russia was “providing fire assistance to the Donbas”. He said: “Only military infrastructure is being take care of. Cities are not being attacked.”
Donbas, comprising the self-declared republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, have been at various stages of conflict with Ukraine for eight years, supported directly by Russia.
Moscow has said it was conducting the special operations to assist Donetsk and Luhansk repulse “Ukrainian aggression they suffered since 2014”.
Solodov was asked to comment on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s fears that he was Russia’s target no 1 and his family target no 2.
“There is absolutely no intention of occupying Ukraine or forcing a regime change in Kyiv,” Solodov said emphatically.
Russia also accused Ukrainian forces of shelling Donbas cities causing casualties among civilians.
Asked about civilians being killed and injured in strikes, Solodov said, “As Ukraine continues shelling Donbass cities, there are unfortunately casualties among civilians.”
Without elaborating, the Russian Embassy spokesperson added, “We know from past experiences that the Ukrainian leadership’s claims have nothing to do with reality.”
The Russian offensive on Ukraine continued Friday and forces were fast approaching capital Kyiv even as Zelensky signed a decree that ordered broad-based mobilisation of all conscripts and reservists.
The capital city reported multiple explosions in the city centre and Ukrainian soldiers also bombed its own bridge to stop the advance of enemy troops.
ThePrint Thursday reported that Russians are believed to be using the Smerch multiple-rocket launching system besides the Kalibr cruise missiles which are fired from submarines and ships. The Russians were also firing the Iskander tactical ballistic missile.
Incidentally, Russian troops also captured the infamous Chernobyl power plant, the site of one of the world’s worst nuclear accidents in April 1986.
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