Russian Defense Ministry attributes destruction and casualties in Ukraine's Mariupol to actions of Ukrainian nationalists

MOSCOW. Feb 27 (Interfax) - The Russian troops are not striking on Ukrainian cities; it was the Ukrainian battalion Azov that fired on Mariupol, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

"From 4:00 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. on February 26, Ukrainian nationalists of the Azov battalion carried out strikes using Grad multiple-launch rocket systems on the residential quarters of the Sartana populated locality in a Mariupol and on School No. 8 of the city of Mariupol. As a result of the attack, several residential houses have been destroyed, and there are fatalities among civilians," Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov said at a press briefing on Sunday.

"The Russian Defense Ministry warned that Ukrainian nationalists were preparing such provocations," he said.

"The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are carrying out no strikes on the cities or populated localities and are taking all measures to preserve the lives of peaceful civilians," Konashenkov said.

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