Kiev has escalated attacks on civilians – Moscow

Ukraine is reacting with violence to a US-Russian diplomatic thaw, according to a senior diplomat

Kiev has reacted to diplomatic reengagement between Moscow and Washington by intensifying attacks against civilians, a senior Russian diplomat has claimed.

American and Russian officials have held multiple rounds of discussions aimed at restoring bilateral relations and resolving the conflict between Moscow and Kiev since US President Donald Trump’s second term in office started in January.

Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s ambassador-at-large overseeing investigations of war crimes, has accused Kiev of trying to derail the dialogue through military provocations. Since late March, the number of Ukrainian attacks against civilian targets has significantly increased, he said during a briefing on Monday.

”That was Kiev’s reaction to the start of the negotiations between Moscow and Washington,” Miroshnik claimed, noting that the number of Ukrainian attacks has risen by a quarter, compared to January and February.

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Miroshnik stated that during the first three months of 2025, Ukrainian forces had fired more than 22,000 munitions at Russia's civilian infrastructure.

”In the period from January 1 to March 31, Ukrainian military action has hurt at least 1,489 civilians,” Miroshnik reported. The casualties included 292 deaths and 1,197 who were wounded, according to the official. Five children were killed in the three months and 63 others were injured, he added.

Kiev is deliberately targeting non-combatants in order to terrorize the Russian population, the diplomat alleged, citing statements by Ukrainian officials and interviews with troops captured in Kursk Region.

One Ukrainian soldier claimed he had been ordered to “shoot all encountered civilians,” Miroshnic said, adding that the “political regime in Kiev is relaying to its units guarantees of impunity for their crimes secretly offered by Western sponsors.”

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The Trump administration has changed the US approach to handling the crisis, which previously promised Kiev unwavering military support. Moscow is concerned that Kiev will resort to provocations in an attempt to influence American policy, Miroshnik said.