Putin: we are fighting against neo-Nazis, course of events in Ukraine shows it

MOSCOW. March 3 (Interfax) - Russian armed forces in Ukraine are fighting against neo-Nazis, who are receiving help from foreign mercenaries, including from mercenaries from the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"The very course of fighting shows that it is neo-Nazis whom we are fighting against," Putin said at a meeting of the Russian Security Council.

"Nationalist and neo-Nazi formations, which also include foreign mercenaries, including from the Middle East, are using civilians as human shields," he said.

The president noted he said earlier that Ukrainian formations were placing heavy military hardware in city centers and in residential areas.

"Instead of fulfilling their promises and removing this hardware from residential areas, hospitals and kindergartens, they, on the contrary, are deploying more tanks, artillery and mortars there," Putin said.