Mykhailo Koval, the acting defense minister of Ukraine, made statements Tuesday explaining that anti-terrorism operations taking place in Southeastern Ukraine–based on “liquidation” of diversionists and terrorists–are not performed with haste in order to prevent casualties among the civilian population.
The defense minister told a story explaining the situation Tuesday at the briefing after the closed session of parliament.
“One of the ambassadors of the Central European State asked me why the anti terrorism operation goes so slow,” said Koval. “I answered that we have two options. The first option involves the use of heavy artillery. We could raze this settlement to the ground, put a yellow-and-blue flag and report on the performance of tasks. The second option–which is what we do–is block, step by step, and liquidate the diversionists and terrorists, as well as avoid involvement in the fighting of the civilian population. I asked the diplomat ‘What option would you chose,’ and he said, ‘I select your Ukrainian variant.’ So you should understand that our participants of the counter-terrorism operation work according to this option.”
By Day Blakely Donaldson
Source:
Puterak Olexandr at the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense