Moscow: Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in Uzbekistan on Tuesday to attend a meeting of defense ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said slowing down the pace of the offensive during a special military operation in Ukraine was a deliberate decision to minimize civilian casualties.

During the special operation, we strictly followed the norms of humanitarian law. Attacks are carried out with high-precision weapons on the military infrastructure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces - control points, airfields, warehouses, fortified areas and military-industrial complex objects. At the same time, every effort is being made to avoid civilian casualties. Of course, it slows down the pace of the offensive, but we're doing it on purpose," Shoigu explained.

He claims that the Russian military "acted systematically to establish a peaceful life in the liberated areas."

According to Sergei Shoigu, the need for a special military operation in Ukraine was dictated by real threats from Kyiv to the residents of the Donbass, and then to Russia.

According to the defense minister, the special military operation "is going according to plan" and "all tasks will be completed."

Shoigu told a meeting of defense ministers of the SCO that the weapons sent to Ukraine by the US and its allies have significantly increased human casualties and prolonged the military conflict.

Noting that Russia's partners remain under pressure to isolate it, he expressed his gratitude to his allies "for their principled position and support".

According to Shoigu, a large number of Ukrainian soldiers have voluntarily surrendered because Kyiv fears they will reveal the truth and is cracking down on its own troops.

Russia continues its special campaign to demilitarize and de-nazify Ukraine, ordered by President Vladimir Putin on February 24 in response to a request from the Donetsk and Lugansk republics to save Kyiv from atrocities.

Russia has repeatedly said that the six-month-old special operation launched in Ukraine is aimed solely at destroying the country's military infrastructure, and poses no threat to civilians.

Western countries have imposed several sanctions on Russia and supplied weapons to Ukraine, resulting in skyrocketing energy and food prices around the world.

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