Russia will focus its main war effort on the “complete liberation” of the eastern Ukrainian Donbas region, a change from its previous mission of trying to invade the whole country, decapitate the Kyiv government and change leadership.
On Friday, March 24, the defence ministry said Russia had been considering two options for its “special military operation” – one covering the whole of Ukraine and one focusing on the Donbas.
The comments come as Russian forces have met strong resistance in the north of Ukraine and around Kyiv.