MOSCOW, August 29 (RIA Novosti) - Russia’s envoy to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, told the UN Security Council Thursday that the current escalation of hostilities in southeastern Ukraine is a result of Kiev’s war against its own people.
“The current escalation of situation in southeastern Ukraine is a direct consequence of Kiev’s wrongful policy to wage a war against own people,” he said, adding that more than 2,000 people have died in the region, and their numbers are growing.
The number of Ukrainian refugees coming to Russia has reached 814,000 people, he said.
Churkin also called on members of the UN Security Council Thursday to adopt a media statement urging a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Kiev authorities launched a special military operation in mid-April against independence supporters in the southeast of Ukraine, who refused to recognize the legitimacy of the country’s coup-imposed government.
Since the beginning of the military conflict, Kiev has been accusing Russia of sending troops and weaponry to independence supporters in the region.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said earlier on Thursday that Russian troops had entered Ukraine and NATO released images that it claimed showed Russian artillery on the Ukrainian territory.
Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement in the Ukrainian crisis, urging Kiev to stop the bloodshed and establish a direct dialogue with representatives of Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
