Putin’s troops willing to kill civilians as ‘collateral damage’ in war, says UK

British defence chiefs said on Wednesday there was a “realistic possibility” that a horrific missile strike on a shopping centre in Ukraine may have been intended for another nearby target.

But they stressed that Russian military planners were “highly likely” to be willing to kill many civilians as “collateral damage” in Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.

They also warned that the “shortcomings” of Mr Putin’s military planners and a “shortage” of Russian precision missiles was likely to lead to more atrocities with civilians being killed.

In its latest intelligence update, the Ministry of Defence in London said: “There is a realistic possibility the missile strike on the Kremenchuk shopping centre on 27 June 2022 was intended to hit a nearby infrastructure target.

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“Russia’s inaccuracy in conducting long range strikes has previously resulted in mass civilian casualty incidents, including at Kramatorsk railway station on 9 April 2022.”

It added: “Russian planners highly likely remain willing to accept a high level of collateral damage when they perceive military necessity in striking a target.

“It is almost certain that Russia will continue to conduct strikes in an effort to interdict the resupplying of Ukrainian frontline forces. Russia’s shortage of more modern precision strike weapons and the professional shortcomings of their targeting planners will highly likely result in further civilian casualties.”

Mr Putin’s army was also reported to make more progress in the eastern Donbas region where he is focusing his military campaign.

The MoD added: “Russian forces continue to make incremental advances in their efforts to encircle the town of Lysychansk. Since 25 June 2022, Russian forces have advanced a further 2km near the Lysychansk oil refinery, south of the town.”