Russian forces know for sure that they are shelling civilian targets and that civilians will be insured or killed in their attacks - Portnikov

The author shared the details with Espreso. 

"The Russians are well aware that they are not shooting at military targets. The Russian invaders have always been aware of this. And when they bombed Mariupol, and when they bombed Aleppo, and when they bombed Grozny. The Russians always knew that they were shooting at civilian targets and that the victims would be the civilian population", Portnikov noted.

The journalist added that it is not necessary to look for logic in the actions of the Russians.

"After every barbaric Russian attack on Ukraine, we ask ourselves why this is happening, why do they shell the centers of peaceful cities, why do they need to shoot at the civilian population? And we are trying to find logic in Putin's actions, as if the Russians were shooting at a military target, or the missiles are not that accurate. But there is no need to invent anything. The Russians know exactly what they are doing," Vitaly Portnikov noted.