Donetsk, Jul 27 — DAN. More than 260 civilians, including 16 children, have died at the hands of Ukrainian forces since the February escalation, the DPR Mission to the JCCC said.

“Overall, according to the DPR Mission estimates, 265 civilians were killed over 161 days, including 16 children, ” the report reads.

Final reports on the number of victims in the liberated territories are being prepared.

A total of 1,238 civilians were injured on the territory controlled by the DPR as of February 24. In the liberated territories, 1,505 civilians were injured, including 86 children, bringing the total number to 2,743, including 181 children.

Russia started a special military operation to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine on February 24. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the decision had been made after the DPR and LPR Heads addressed him asking for help.

The Russian leader said that Moscow is not planning to occupy Ukrainian territory, the only goal is to protect people who have been continuously shelled and subjected to other forms of genocide by Ukraine for eight years. *ot