The U.S. State Department said that Ukraine in its offensive operations "minimizes the threat of civilian casualties". This is how Assistant Secretary of State John Bass commented on the strike on temporarily occupied Crimea on June 23, UNN reports citing Voice of America.
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When asked by Voice of America about the strike in Sevastopol with allegedly American-made missiles, where, according to Russia, more than 150 people were injured, the State Department spokesperson said that there is a big contrast between the casualties caused by Ukrainian attacks and Russian shelling.
"With regard to the reports of civilian casualties in Crimea, the United States deeply regrets the loss of any civilian life, any innocent lives lost during the conflict. I can't speak to the veracity of Moscow's accusations, but if they are true in this case, I think it's important to emphasize that we see Ukraine using its offensive capabilities," said Blinken's political assistant.
Bass emphasized that the Ukrainian Armed Forces "have taken significant steps to minimize the threat of civilian casualties, and this is in marked contrast to the nature of Russia's brutal war from day one.
According to him, it is impossible to compare Russia's loss of civilian life with the loss of Ukrainian lives as a result of Russian air strikes on hospitals, schools and other civilian infrastructure.
Here, he said, "there is a huge gap that demonstrates the brutality of Russia's ongoing war.
State Department comments on explosions in Sevastopol25.06.24, 03:01
The U.S. Department of Defense also responded to Russia's threats to retaliate for the strike on Crimea allegedly with U.S.-made ATACMS missiles.
On Monday, June 24, the Pentagon said that Ukraine makes its own decisions about which targets to choose in its military operations.
"Ukraine makes its own targeting decisions and conducts its own military operations," said Pentagon spokesman Major Charlie Dietz.