Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has called on Ukrainian authorities to “stop killing its own citizens” in its offensive against pro-Russian armed groups in the country’s east.
“The Kiev administration should come to their senses and stop killing their own citizens, or else the country’s future might be very sad,” Medvedev wrote on his Facebook account on Friday.
He said the government's use of force was a sign of "criminal helplessness."
“An offensive has been started instead of starting a normal dialogue,” he said.
Medvedev called Ukraine's anti-terror operations "a war against their own people" and said responsibility for this would rest with the decision makers in Kiev.
Government buildings and police stations in several eastern Ukraine cities are in the hands of armed pro-Russian groups.
On Friday, Ukraine's government forces launched a military operation in the eastern city of Slavyansk, a city taken over by pro-Russian rebels several weeks ago.
Ukrainian forces reportedly used at least 20 helicopters in the operations.
Interim President Oleksandr Turchynov said on Friday that many separatists were killed, wounded and arrested during the government offensives.
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