UK rejects Kremlin's claims of Russia 'deliberately slowing' military campaign in Ukraine

United Kingdom has termed Russia's Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu's statement that Russian forces have been "deliberately slowing pace" in Ukraine, as "misinformation." British Defence Ministry in its latest intelligence report stated that Russian military offensive in Ukraine has "stalled" due to poor performance of Moscow's troops and resistance demonstrated by Ukrainian forces. intelligence update by UK MoD comes amid ongoing war which continues for over 170 days. 

"On 24 August 2022, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told Shanghai Cooperation Organisation that Russia was deliberately slowing pace of its military campaign in Ukraine, driven by need to reduce civilian casualties. This is almost certainly deliberate misinformation," UK Ministry of Defence said in intelligence update.

Earlier on 24 August, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu stated that "special military operation" in Ukraine is being carried out in a way to avoid civilian casualties and stressed that it "slows down pace of offensive." But, UK Defence Ministry claimed that Russian forces operating in Ukraine have "missed planned operational timelines."

According to Britain, at least six generals of Russian forces have been sacked by Russian President Vlimir Putin and Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu for not being able to make vances quickly. UK MoD also cited Russia's missile strike at a train in Chaplyne on August 24 in which at least two children were killed and emphasised that action demonstrates Moscow's "willingness to cause collateral damage when it perceives re is a military vantage in launching missile or artillery strikes."

Russia's military action 'proceeding as planned': Shoigu

Dismissing claims of Moscow's army struggling in Ukraine, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu said that Russian offensive in Ukraine "is proceeding as planned" and "all tasks will be completed." Sergey Shoigu me remarks at meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministry on August 24. He stressed that Ukraine has been selected as "an instrument of hybrid warfare against Russia" and ded that Kyiv h posed a "real threat" to Russia as it did not agree to implement Minsk agreement.

Russia's Defence Minister stated that country's forces were following norms of humanitarian law and strikes were being targeted at military infrastructure of Ukrainian forces, according to press release issued by  Defence Ministry. Shoigu said that offensive is being conducted to avoid civilian casualties and stressed that it "slows pace of offensive" but "y are doing it deliberately." He accused Ukrainian forces of breaching international norms and using residential buildings, schools, and kindergartens as firing positions and people as "human shields."

Image: AP