re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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The Russian Ministry of Defence has criticized the Ukrainian government for handing out weapons to civilians, saying it “will inevitably lead to accidents and casualties.”

“The Kyiv nationalist regime massively and uncontrollably distributes automatic small arms, grenade launchers and ammunition to residents of Ukrainian settlements,” the Ministry of Defence spokesperson Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement on Saturday. “The involvement of the civilian population of Ukraine by the nationalists in the hostilities will inevitably lead to accidents and casualties."

Despite Russian claims to the contrary, evidence suggests civilian infrastructure is under attack. Reports about apartment buildings and kindergartens being shelled, civilians being killed, and rockets being found in residential streets have been trickling in since the beginning of the offensive.

Social media videos, photos and satellite images analyzed and geolocated by CNN confirm that on several occasions densely populated areas have been hit by Russian forces.

European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic said Saturday he "most strongly" condemns Russian attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

Konashenkov also repeated claims that the Ukrainian military was deploying heavy military equipment in civilian areas.

“Our intelligence data continues to record the deployment of rocket and artillery units by Ukrainian nationalists in residential areas not only in Kyiv, but also in other Ukrainian cities,” he said.

“We call on the people of Ukraine to be conscious, not to succumb to these provocations of the Kyiv regime and not to expose themselves and their loved ones to unnecessary suffering,” Konashenkov concluded.

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The International Criminal Court's prosecutor has put combatants and their commanders on notice that he is monitoring Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has jurisdiction to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Prosecutor Karim Khan said his office “may exercise its jurisdiction over and investigate any act of genocide, crime against humanity or war crime committed within the territory of Ukraine.” That's because Ukraine, while not a member state of the ICC, has accepted the court's jurisdiction.

In a warning that could apply to Russia's civilian and military leadership, Khan said that “any person who commits such crimes, including by ordering, inciting or contributing in another manner to the commission of these crimes may be liable to prosecution before the Court.”

He added: “It is imperative that all parties to the conflict respect their obligations under international humanitarian law.”

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And a senior U.S. defense official told Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin that the Russian military is not moving or fighting at night

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A Russian thermobaric multiple rockets launcher has been spotted by CNN team south of Belgorod, Russia, near the Ukrainian border early Saturday afternoon.

The TOS-1 or TOS-1A Multiple Rocket Launcher seen by CNN is capable of launching rockets with thermobaric warheads.

There is no evidence that thermobaric weapons have been used in the conflict in Ukraine.

These types of weapons do not use conventional ammunition. Instead, they are filled with high-temperature, high-pressure explosive. They are sometimes called “vacuum bombs” because they suck in the oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a powerful explosion and a large pressure wave that can have enormous destructive effects.

Thermobaric weapons have been used in Chechnya, with horrifying consequences, according to Human Rights Watch. Their use has been condemned by number of non-governmental organizations.

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It's just astounding to see such selflessness from a political figure today. I honestly can't think of a single Western leader in the past 30 years who would do something like this to fight for something bigger than themselves.

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