The course of hostilities in Ukraine shows that Russia is fighting neo-Nazis, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday at a meeting with the permanent members of Russia's Security Council, TASS reported.

"The fact that we are at war specifically with neo-Nazis is shown by the very course of hostilities. Nationalist and neo-Nazi formations, which include foreign mercenaries, including those from the Middle East, cover with civilians as a human shield," the Russian head of state said.

The president said that Neo-Nazis in Ukraine were taking foreign citizens hostage.

"There is objective data on the deployment of heavy equipment by nationalists and bandits in Ukraine near residential buildings," Putin said.