A Russian military official spelled out broader goals in the country’s new phase of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, saying Russia was pursuing full control of the Donbas and southern Ukraine, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared victory in the battle for Mariupol.
The control “would give a land route to Crimea, as well as influence (over) the critical items of the Ukrainian economy,” according to Rustam Minnekayev, acting head of Russia’s Central Military District.
According to Minnekayev, the move would also open the door to Moldova, particularly its Russian-backed separatist territory of Transnistria.
The senior military official made the remarks at a defense industry gathering, acknowledging that the war’s second phase began “only two days ago.”
The current phase is centered on Mariupol, although hundreds of Ukrainian military and citizens remain at the massive Azovstal steel factory complex. On Thursday, Putin told his forces not to attack the bastion, but rather to block it off “such that not even a fly gets through.”
Iryna Vereshchuk, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister, called on Russia on Friday to provide humanitarian routes to allow inhabitants in the facility to flee.