Russia 'Slows Down' Military Operations in Ukraine

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu today announced a "Slowdown" of the military operations in Ukraine due to the "desire to avoid civilian casualties."

"During the special operation, we strictly observe the norms of humanitarian law. The strikes are carried out with high-precision weapons on military infrastructure facilities of the armed forces of Ukraine - command posts, airfields, warehouses, fortified areas, objects of the military-industrial complex. At the same time, everything is done to avoid casualties among civilians. Of course, this slows down the pace of the offensive, but we are doing it consciously," Shoigu said at a meeting of SCO defense ministers in Tashkent on Wednesday.

According to Shoigu, the special military operation "is going according to plan, all tasks will be completed."

"Today, a tough sanctions and information war has been unleashed against Russia. And the conflict in Ukraine has become just another pretext for this. The declared goal of the United States and its accomplices is the strategic exhaustion of Russia to eliminate competition and warn other states pursuing an independent foreign policy," Shoigu said.

U.S. Embassy urges citizens to leave Ukraine

Ironically, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv warned Russia could intensify attacks in the days around August 24, the day Ukraine celebrates its independence from the Soviet Union. Ukraine has banned public celebrations in the capital independence citing a heightened threat of attack.

"The Department of State has information that Russia is stepping up efforts to launch strikes against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and government facilities in the coming days," the embassy said. "The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to depart Ukraine now using privately available ground transportation options if it is safe to do so.”