LONDON, (Reuters) – Moscow claimed Monday that Britain and the United States were aiding Ukraine in making false claims regarding the alleged persecution in Ukraine of civilians. This was in an effort to denigrate Russia.

Ukrainian soldiers have shown journalists the bodies of civilians who died in Russian-led attacks on villages and towns around Kyiv.

According to the West, evidence of war crimes is found in dead civilians. Reuters journalists saw bodies lying in Bucha, but were unable to independently confirm who had been responsible.

Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed Ukraine’s government had been directed by the United States in order to produce false evidence that Russia was using violence against civilians. This despite Moscow’s “unprecedented steps to rescue civilians”.

According to the ministry, “The United States is an experienced organization of provocations that result in human deaths and has continued its campaign for false evidence creation.”

Ukraine accuses Russia of genocide. It has asked the NATO and West to provide more support.

Russia claimed that British intelligence helped Ukraine prepare fake claims regarding alleged abuses committed in the northeastern Ukraine. However, the defence ministry didn’t provide any proof for claims that it was involved in British and U.S. activities.

According to the ministry, “New fake staged provocations against the Russian Federation accusing them of cruel treatment of Ukraine’s population are being planned by the Kiev regime led by British special services in the Sumy region.”

Russia claims that Western journalists have been invited by Russia to Sumy, northeast Ukraine to film “staged plots”. According to the ministry, Western media will publish fake news within a short time. The ministry did not specify which media.

The report stated that Russian troops were said to have left Nyzhnya Syrovatka (the alleged site of abuses) on March 20.

According to the ministry, “The objective is to continue stoke Russophobia amidst the rapidly emerging economic crisis in Europe.”

Russia invaded Ukraine Feb. 24, killing thousands and forcing millions to flee their homes. This has raised suspicions of an even wider conflict between Russia and America.

Putin said that the Ukraine “special military operation was necessary” because Russia used Ukraine as a threat to Russia. Moscow also had to intervene to protect Russian-speaking Ukrainians from persecution.

Ukraine claims it’s fighting an imperial-style land grab, and rejects Putin’s genocide accusations.