Russia has declared the first phase of its war with Ukraine to be over.
Russia announced that the first phase of its military strategy is now complete, and that its next primary focus would be on eastern Ukraine.
According to CNN, a top Russian officer, Colonel General Sergei Rudskoy, first deputy chief of Russia’s General Staff, stated this at a briefing.
This is the first time Russia has made such extensive public statements on its military plan in neighboring Ukraine.
“In general, the main tasks of the first stage of the operation have been completed,” he said.
“The combat potential of the armed forces of Ukraine has been significantly reduced, allowing us, I emphasize again, to focus the main efforts on achieving the main goal — the liberation of Donbas.
“The public and individual experts are wondering what we are doing in the area of the blockaded Ukrainian cities,” Rudskoy said.
Rudskoy said military actions were carried out with the aim of destroying Ukraine’s military infrastructure, equipment and personnel in order, not only to stop Ukrainian forces from grouping in the Donbas, but also not to let them strengthen until the Russian forces have totally liberated the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics.
The DPR and LPR are separatist territories in eastern Ukraine that Russia recognized on the eve of its invasion of Ukraine.
