WASHINGTON. June 25 (Interfax) - The United States government does not want to see civilian casualties and will discuss the matter with Kiev, U.S. Department of Defense Press Secretary Patrick Ryder said while commenting on the recent missile attack on Sevastopol.
"That's something that we will talk to the Ukrainians about. It's - we've been very clear about, you know, we don't want to see civilian casualties," Ryder said at a press briefing as a reporter asked him to comment on the attack on Sevastopol last Sunday.
Ryder declined to confirm that the U.S. was responsible for providing Kiev with target designation and other intelligence and suggested that the Ukrainian authorities be approached for information.
"You know, ultimately I'd refer you to Ukraine to talk about their operations," Ryder said.
"You know, they make their own decisions when it comes to operations and targeting. We don't have any information to indicate whether or not civilians were killed," Ryder said.
Russian air defense forces repelled a missile attack on Sevastopol on Sunday. The Russian Defense Ministry said the Ukrainian Armed Forces used ATACMS missiles armed with cluster munitions provided by the U.S., four of which were downed, and one was sent off course by Russian air defense systems and exploded over the city.