MOSCOW, 26 Feb. Ukrainian nationalists fired multiple launch rocket systems «Grad» at the residential areas of Starobelsk, there are civilians killed, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported. Grad» in the residential areas of the city of Starobelsk. As a result, a fire started in the city, there are destruction of residential buildings, there are dead among the civilian population,» the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry stressed that the Russian army does not strike at cities and towns and takes all measures to save the lives of civilians.Vladimir Putin earlier announced the launch of a special military operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine. In a televised address to the Russians, he said that the circumstances «require decisive and immediate action from us, the people's republics of Donbass turned to Russia with a request for help.» 
The Russian military has established full control over MelitopolThe President added that the entire responsibility for the bloodshed will be on the conscience of the ruling regime in Ukraine, urged the Ukrainian military not to carry out criminal orders and lay down their weapons. Later, the Ministry of Defense emphasized that the Russian Armed Forces do not launch any missile, air or artillery strikes on the cities of Ukraine: military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields and aviation are disabled by high-precision weapons. Published by: Stanislav Vand