ROME, June 3. /TASS/. Russian Ambassador to Italy Sergey Razov warned that weapons sent by Western countries to Ukraine can be used to kill civilians, including children, in Donetsk and Lugansk, the diplomat said in an interview with La Presse published on Friday.
"Pumping Ukraine with modern weapons gives Kiev the illusion that it can win on the battlefield, but in reality only prolongs the conflict, multiplying the casualties and destruction. The supply of multiple launch rocket systems capable of engaging targets in Russia from Ukrainian territory adds an additional complicating element to the situation. Kiev's public promise not to use these types of weapons on Russian territory cannot be taken seriously," Razov said.
"By the way, there have been reports in the media that Italy, as well as some other NATO countries, is supplying Ukraine with 155-millimeter howitzers with a range sufficient for shelling the DPR’s and LPR’s territories. It has been documented that civilians, including children, have been killed in the peaceful cities of Donetsk and Lugansk as a result of shelling with these weapons," the diplomat said.
According to opinion polls, more than half of Italians are against sending weapons to Ukraine. Italy has already sent three shipments as part of bloc discipline, with list of weapons being classified. Recently, the Five Star Movement and the League, two major political forces in the ruling coalition, have opposed further arms supplies to Kiev.