Russian defense ministry says it will focus on 'liberating' the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine as invading troops remain stalled

russian tank ukria — Soldiers stand near a Russian tank in Volnovakha, Donetsk, Ukraine on March 11, 2022.
Leon Klein/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Russia's defense ministry said it will focus on "liberating" the Donbas region in Eastern Ukraine.
It also said that phase one of the "special military operation" in Ukraine is complete.
The new plan appears to show Russia is scaling back its operation after being met with strong resistance in Ukraine.

The Russian defense ministry said Friday that it will focus on "liberating" the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine as its troops remain stalled in much of the country, Reuters reported.

It also said that the first phase of its "special operation" in Ukraine was complete.

"The main objectives of the first stage of the operation have generally been accomplished," Sergei Rudskoi, head of the Russian General Staff's Main Operational Directorate, said, according to a translation by Reuters.

He continued: "The combat potential of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been considerably reduced, which ... makes it possible to focus our core efforts on achieving the main goal, the liberation of Donbas."

Michael Kofman, an expert on Russian studies, tweeted that he guessed Russia might re-route its military plans this way.

"I had a hypothesis that the more minimal aims Moscow could have at this point is to try to take all of the Donbas, pursue some political settlement, then turn around and claim that's what this operation was really all about in an effort to salvage something & declare victory," Kofman said.

The Donbas region is made up of the Luhansk region and the Donetsk region, each of which is made up of 93% and 54% Russian-backed separatists, respectively, according to Reuters.

The announced plan appears to indicate that Russia is scaling back its goals after being met with strong resistance in Ukraine, according to Reuters.

Since launching its first attack in Ukraine on February 24, Rudskoi said that 1,351 Russian troops have died in the "special operation" and 3,825 military members had been injured, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's military and NATO have said up to 15,000 Russian soldiers have died in the war.

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