DMITRIADOVKA VILLAGE, Rostov Region, June 19. /ITAR-TASS/. The chief of staff of the Russian presidential administration, Sergei Ivanov, has described what is happening in Ukraine as a civil war developing into genocide against own people.

Ivanov gave the assessment during a meeting in the Rostov region on Thursday with volunteers who help Ukrainian citizens arriving in Russia.

“I do not want to say bold phrases, but what is happening there, in my view, is a civil war surely developing into genocide against own people,” he said, adding that it was clearly seen in the Rostov region that it was also a humanitarian catastrophe.

He pledged that regional and federal authorities and the Russian government would help refugees.

“These people are not to blame for anything. These are brotherly people. These are our people. And we will do everything for them,” the official pledged.