Photo: Anastasia Vlasova / Getty Images
A senior Russian military commander said on Friday that the goal of Russia’s new offensive is to take control of southern Ukraine and form a land bridge to Crimea, indicating that Russia is planning a permanent occupation of Ukrainian territory seized in the war.
Rustam Minnekayev, interim commander of the Central Military District, also told the members of a defense industry forum that control over southern Ukraine would give Russia access to Transnistria, a pro-Russian breakaway region of Moldova, indicating Russia could attack the port city of Odessa or mount an economic blockade of the area.
The announcement marks much broader war objectives than those previously declared by Moscow.
The comments directly contradict the previous statements of Vladimir Putin that Russia did not plan to occupy Ukrainian cities permanently and suggest that the Kremlin is changing tactics after its failed offensive against kyiv, which seemed to seek a change of regime.
Major General Rustam Minnekayev’s statement, reported by Russian state media, marked the most explicit expression yet of Russia’s long-term war goals against Ukraine, although it is not known whether Minnekayev was explaining official policy.
Their comments also indicated the objectives of accessing neighboring Moldova through a region disputed separatist and completely block Ukraine’s access to the sea.
The Moldovan government has been shaken by the Russian attack on its neighbor, and the Moldovans fear that Russian President Vladimir Putin may move further west.
Russia’s campaign in southern Ukraine has been more successful than its attempts to take kyiv from the north, although it has also met fierce resistance from Ukrainian troops.
Russia has occupied the city of Kherson and has claimed almost total control of Mariupol , while planning a pincer attack against Ukrainian forces in the eastern Donbas region.
Last 29 March, the Ministry of Defense The Russian considered the essential objective of the first phase of the invasion to have been fulfilled, which, according to reports, was to reduce the war capacity of Ukraine, and said that it would focus on the “liberation of Donbas”.
Russian President Vla Dimir Putin, ordered the past February launch a “special military operation” in Ukraine claiming that the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, previously recognized by Moscow as independent, needed help in the face of the “genocide” in kyiv.
Zelensky commented on Russia’s intentions with Moldova
The president of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelensky, assured on Friday that the Russian invasion is intended “as a beginning” and that Moscow’s intention is ” capture other countries” in the face of recent statements by the Russian Armed Forces over the Moldovan region of Transnistria.
“With reference to the Russian Army, the news spread that its task now is supposedly to establish control over southern Ukraine and reach the border with Moldova. And allegedly there, in Moldova, the rights of Russian-speakers are violated, “said the Ukrainian president, referring to the words of Rustam Minnekayev, commander of the Central District of the Army.
Zelensky replied that it is the Russian territory that “should take care of the rights of Russian-speakers”, since in Russia “there is no freedom of expression” or “freedom of choice”. “There is simply no right to dissent,” he said, adding that in the country “poverty thrives” and “human life is worth nothing.”
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to deter attacks by Russian invaders in the east and south of our country. In the direction of Izium, in Donbas, in Priazovia, in Mariupol (or) the Kherson region are the places where the fate of this war and the future of our state are decided”, he assured.
In a positive tone, The Ukrainian president also thanked the countries for the military aid they are providing, which will allow “saving thousands of people.” Zelenski added that settlements have been demined 184 this Friday and that at least in 500 localities operate humanitarian headquarters.
With information from Europa Press, NPR and The Guardian
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