Russia is planning to seize Ukraine's south and open a route to Transnistria, a self-proclaimed state internationally recognised to be part of Moldova, states Rustam Minnekayev, acting commander of Russia's Central Military District.
«We need to take the Ukrainian south under control and open a route to Transnistria, where the Russian-speaking population is being oppressed», he said in his statement. «It looks as if we are fighting against the entire world, just like in the Great Patriotic War when Europe and the whole world were against us. It happens again, they’ve always hated Russia».
Minnekaev has also pointed out Russia’s objectives of the «second phase» of the war: to take over the entire Donbas region to secure a land bridge to Crimea.
Today is the 58th day of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine. The Russian army keeps partially blocking Kharkiv and expands its military presence in the Zaporizhzhia region. In the Donetsk and Tavriya directions, the Russian army has intensified offensive operations along the entire line of combat.
