A bus with surrendered Ukrainian militants. File photoMOSCOW, June 2 Ukrainian militants are holding civilians in Zelenodolsk, Dnipropetrovsk region, preventing them from returning to Russian-controlled villages in the Kherson region, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, head of the National Defense Control Center, said. According to him, the civilian population wants to get into Vysokopole and Novopetrivka. Mizintsev also pointed out that such attempts are severely suppressed, people are subjected to physical violence, valuables and personal cars are confiscated. It is possible to leave only in isolated cases. Since February 24, Russia has been conducting a special military operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine. Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years.» The army has already completed the main task of the first stage — it significantly reduced the combat potential of Ukraine. The military department called the liberation of Donbass the main goal of the operation. The Russian military took control of the Kherson region and the Azov part of the Zaporozhye region in southern Ukraine. Civil-military administrations have begun work in the regions, broadcasting of Russian TV channels and radio stations has begun, and trade ties with Crimea are being restored. pity the mercenaries, the Ministry of Defense said
