"There is information that Ukrainian militants... kidnap people. They grab civilians and take them away in an unknown direction. Often, information or contact with them is lost," Miroshnik said.
Early on August 6, Ukrainian forces crossed the border into Russia and launched an offensive in the Kursk Region. Commenting on the attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine had carried out another large-scale provocation, firing indiscriminately at civilian targets. The enemy will receive a proper response in the border regions of Russia, Putin said.
He said the Ukrainian regime is ready to use any methods to achieve its goals.
"As a terrorist regime, and Ukraine today is an openly terrorist regime, it is ready to use any methods to achieve some of its goals," Miroshnik said when asked why the Ukrainian Armed Forces kidnap civilians from the Kursk Region.
The Russian Defense Ministry said August 28 that Ukrainian troops had lost up to 7,000 servicemen and 74 tanks during the offensive in the Kursk Region.