Moscow: Kiev Escalating Attacks on Civilians Amid Diplomatic Talks

By Staff, Agencies

A senior Russian diplomat has accused Kiev of escalating its attacks on civilians in response to the renewed diplomatic efforts between Moscow and Washington.

Since the beginning of US President Donald Trump’s second term in office, American and Russian officials have held several rounds of discussions aimed at restoring bilateral relations and resolving the ongoing conflict with Kiev.

Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s ambassador-at-large overseeing investigations into war crimes, claimed that Kiev has sought to derail these talks by provoking military escalation.

Miroshnik noted that the number of Ukrainian attacks on civilian targets has sharply increased since late March, rising by a quarter compared to January and February.

Miroshnik reported that during the first three months of 2025, Ukrainian forces fired more than 22,000 munitions at Russia’s civilian infrastructure.

He further stated, "In the period from January 1 to March 31, Ukrainian military action has hurt at least 1,489 civilians." The casualties included 292 deaths and 1,197 injuries, with five children killed and 63 others wounded.

The diplomat alleged that Kiev is intentionally targeting non-combatants to terrorize the Russian population, citing interviews with captured Ukrainian soldiers. One soldier reportedly claimed, “I had been ordered to ‘shoot all encountered civilians.’”

Miroshnik also alleged that the “political regime in Kiev is relaying to its units guarantees of impunity for their crimes secretly offered by Western sponsors.”

Miroshnik expressed concern that Kiev might use provocations to influence US policy, as the Trump administration had altered its approach, moving away from its previous stance of offering unwavering military support to Kiev.