25 Feb 2022 17:17

One purpose of Russian special operation in Ukraine is to hold those guilty of crimes against civilians responsible - Russian Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW. Feb 25 (Interfax) - Holding Ukrainian administration officials responsible is one of the purposes of the special military operation conducted by Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

"Its purpose is to protect the people who have been subjected for eight years to torture and genocide by the Kyiv regime, which came to power in 2014 as a result of an unconstitutional coup. Another purpose of the operation is to hold the current figures, the puppet regime accountable for the crimes committed against civilians, including citizens of the Russian Federation, in these years," Zakharova told a briefing on Friday.

The purposes of the operation also include demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, she said.