The first phase of the war is over, now the focus is on eastern Ukraine: Russia

 A senior Russian military official has publicly commented on Moscow's military strategy in Ukraine, claiming that Russia's "first phase" military plan has been completed and that all attention is now on the East. Attracted to Ukraine.

According to the US broadcaster CNN, the first deputy chief of staff of the Russian General Staff, Col. Sergei Rhodeskoye, said in a briefing on Friday that "in general, the important tasks of the first phase of the operation have been completed."

"The combat capability of Ukraine's armed forces has been greatly reduced. That is why we emphasize once again that we can focus on the fundamental goal of achieving the independence of Donbass. "

Col. Sergei Rhodeskoye's statement comes at a time when Russia's advance has stalled around major Ukrainian cities such as Kiev and Kharkiv.

Russia has also failed to gain air power in Ukraine and has suffered heavy losses since the attack began.

"Experts working at the public and individual levels are amazed at what we are doing in the besieged Russian cities," said Sergei Rhodeskoye.

"These operations are aimed at harming the military infrastructure, equipment, personnel of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the consequences of which are to prevent us not only from limiting their forces but also from strengthening their alignment in Donbass." I help. '

It should be noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the purpose of the (attack) on Ukraine, which Russian officials lightly call a "special military operation", is to end the country's military might.

The Russian president said that the war was going on as planned but that the Russian forces had suffered heavy losses. In the same briefing, Sergei Rhodeskoye said that 1351 military personnel were killed and 3825 wounded in Ukraine.

However, US, NATO and Ukrainian officials say the death toll among Russian troops is much higher.

The Russian military claims that it is not targeting civilians or residential areas, but the facts are quite the opposite.