Deployment of Ukrainian army artillery in residential areas direct violation of international humanitarian law - Russian envoy to UN

NEW YORK (United Nations). Feb 26 (Interfax) - There is no question of Russia's occupation of Ukraine, and Kyiv is using civilians as a human shield, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said.

"The nationalists have already been using civilians as a human shield," he said at a UN Security Council meeting in New York on Friday evening.

"We strongly condemn the deployment of the positions of artillery and multiple rocket launchers by the nationalists in residential neighborhoods," he said. "This is a direct violation of international humanitarian law," Nebenzya said.

The Russian ambassador blamed the West, including the United States, which sponsored the UN Security Council resolution on Ukraine, for what is happening in Ukraine.

"You made Ukraine a pawn in your geopolitical game, not caring at all about the interests of the Ukrainian people... The responsibility rests not only with the current Ukrainian leadership, but also with you gentlemen. And your draft resolution today is nothing but another move in this cruel and inhuman chess game against Ukraine," the diplomat said.