Russian Defense Ministry Spokesperson Major General Igor Konashenkov revealed Saturday that Ukrainian nationalist battalions are copying the tactics of international terrorists in Syria.

"Nationalist battalions are using so-called ‘Bandera cars’ which are cross-country vehicles with large-caliber firearms or mortars mounted on them. Let me remind that this tactic is practiced by international terrorists in Syria," Konashenkov told reporters.

The Major General pointed out that "Our reconnaissance keeps seeing that Ukrainian nationalists are placing rocket launchers and artillery units in residential areas not only in Kiev, but also in other Ukrainian cities," underlining that these nationalists are trying to provoke a response strike on civilians.

"Ukrainian nationalist leadership uses the same methods as terrorists," the Spokesperson highlighted, affirming that Russian forces were not striking residential areas.

In the same context, a local source in Kiev revealed to Al Mayadeen's correspondent that Russian forces are not engaging in battles in the streets of Kiev, noting that armed groups estimated at 20,000 members of extremists are terrorizing Kiev's residents and engaging in killing and looting operations. 

Simultaneously, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian extremist national groups are bombing civilian targets, while accusing the Russian forces of doing so.

It is noteworthy that Russian President Vladimir Putin had appealed to the military forces of Ukraine to not allow what he called "neo-Nazis and Bandevorites" to exploit children, women, and the elderly as human shields.