Russian Defense Ministry blames Ukrainian nationalists for attacks in which 4 Mariupol residents died

MOSCOW. March 7 (Interfax) - Four civilians were killed and five were wounded in Mariupol due to Ukrainian nationalist formations' actions, the Russian military said.

The forces of the Donetsk People's Republic managed to lead out of Mariupol some 150 civilians, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told a briefing on Monday.

"DPR troops ran into a unit of armed Ukrainian nationalists in Mariupol's Prospekt Pobedy around 5:00 p.m. yesterday. The militants were driving some 150 civilians in front of themselves, using them as a living shield. After locating the People's Militia, the Ukrainian nationalists opened fire on them from behind the civilians," Konashenkov said.

Four people were killed and five civilians were wounded in the shooting, he said.

"The DPR People's Militia led the freed civilians out of Mariupol through the Vinogradne neighborhood to the territory controlled [by them]. The necessary assistance was provided to all of them," Konashenkov said.