Defense Minister Shoygu says Ukraine trying to transfer fighting to Russian territory

MOSCOW

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said on Tuesday that Ukraine is trying "to transfer the fighting" to Russian territory by organizing "acts of terrorism."

Speaking at a meeting with military chiefs in Moscow, Shoygu said that with such actions Kyiv is trying to show its efficiency to the West and ensure its support.

"Despite the lack of results on the line of contact, Kyiv is still trying to convince its Western sponsors of its ability to resist the Russian army. To do this, (the Ukrainian authorities) are trying to transfer the fighting to the territory of our country, resorting to acts of terrorism, shelling civilians," he stressed.

Russia reacts "asymmetrically," carrying out strikes with high-precision missiles and drones at military and energy facilities, he noted.

"In March, 190 group and two massive strikes on Ukraine were carried out with precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles. Military and energy infrastructure facilities have been hit," he said.

The Russian army is "pushing" the Ukrainian troops "westward," and over 400 square kilometers went under Moscow's control, the minister claimed.

Specifically, settlements of Nevelske, Orlivka, Tonenke, Ivanivske (Krasnoye in Russian) in the Donetsk region and Myrne in the Zaporizhzhia region went under Russia's control, Shoygu said.

The war in Ukraine started in February 2022.