DISINFO: Russian troops trying to avoid civilian casualties in Ukraine
SUMMARY
Russian troops are trying to avoid civilian casualties in Ukraine.
RESPONSE
This is a disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, claiming that the Russian occupants are not violating the rules of war.
In reality, Russian troops are heavily shelling and bombing residential areas, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, orphanages, churches and other civilian objects. They are also planting mines in cities. The Eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv has been the most damaged city in Ukraine. Russian troops are using cluster and vacuum bombs, which is banned by international conventions. Russian soldiers and saboteurs kill civilians. All these Russian actions are war crimes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched what he called a special military operation against Ukraine on 24 February 2022 citing NATO’s military infrastructure approaching the Russian border as a pretext. The invasion was followed by airstrikes on military objects. Russian troops later started bombing and shelling civilian targets as well.
Read disinformation cases accusing Ukrainian troops of violating human rights.
For the background, see vol. 1 and vol 2 of our recent series titled "What he said and what it really means".