Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that Russia has started a military operation in Ukraine in order to clear the country of Nazis.

“Ideally, it is necessary to liberate Ukraine, clear it of Nazis, as well as pro-Nazi people and ideology”, Peskov told reporters, when asked about how denazification should be interpreted.

Peskov did not elaborate on whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is considered a “pro-Nazi” person, saying, “I will refrain from any other explanations on the matter”.

The Kremlin spokesman also said that the goals of the special operation – the demilitarisation and the denazification of Ukraine – were explained by President Vladimir Putin during his televised address earlier today.

“Actually, both of these goals pose a threat to our state and our people”, Peskov pointed out.

When asked about whether the operation would be limited to the borders of the Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk (LPR) People’s Republics, Peskov said that the question should be addressed to the Russian military.

According to him, the timing of the special operation will depend on its effectiveness, expediency, and will be determined by the Russian president.

Earlier on Thursday, Russia kicked off a military operation in Ukraine in response to the DPR’s and LPR’s request for assistance against the Ukrainian Army, which has intensified the shelling of the Donbass republics over the past week.

The operation comes a few days after President Putin said that Moscow has recognised DPR’s and LPR’s independence, also urging Kiev to stop the eight-year-long military conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar English Website)