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Over 100 Civilians Killed in East Ukraine Punitive Operations – Russian Investigative Committee

© RIA Novosti . Maksim Blinov / Go to the mediabankAftermath of shelling in the town of Amvrosiyevka, Donetsk region
Aftermath of shelling in the town of Amvrosiyevka, Donetsk region - Sputnik International
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More than 100 civilians, including Russians and Italians, have been killed during punitive operations in eastern Ukraine, Russian Investigative Committee Spokesman Vladimir Markin said Wednesday.

MOSCOW, June 18 (RIA Novosti) – More than 100 civilians, including Russians and Italians, have been killed during punitive operations in eastern Ukraine, Russian Investigative Committee Spokesman Vladimir Markin said Wednesday.

“While shooting in the cities of Slaviansk, Kramatorsk, Donetsk, Mariupol and other populated areas in the People’s Republic of Donetsk and Luhansk more than 100 civilians have been killed,” Markin said.

Those dead include Russian journalists Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin, as well as Russian human rights activist Andrei Mironov and Italian photojournalist Andrea Rocchelli, the spokesman said.

Ukraine’s Health Ministry last week reported more than 200 civilians, including women and children, had been killed since the beginning of the operations.

According to Russian investigators, in an effort to “kill an unlimited number of civilians due to political hatred” Kiev’s security forces used BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher systems, air-launched rockets and other heavy armaments.

Since mid-April, Kiev authorities have been conducting a special military operation in the east of Ukraine to crack down on independence supporters that refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the new government.

The city of Slaviansk in Donetsk Region, as well as neighboring Kramatorsk and Mariupol, have seen the bloodiest clashes, leading to dozens of casualties.

Moscow, which describes the ongoing military actions as a punitive operation, has called for an immediate end to the bloodshed, but despite numerous promises to initiate the de-escalation process, Kiev has so far not made any moves to stop the attack.

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