Russia's MoD says phase two of 'special operation' aims to establish control of Donbass

Russian troops have entered crucial second phase of what it calls 'special military operation' and now aim to connect south of Russia with Crimean territory annexed by Russian forces in 2014 by land, commander of Russian troops in Central Military District, Rustam Minnekaev, said. Kremlin troops are establishing land corridor after y captured strategic port city of Mariupol to south. 

Despite that at least 2000 Ukrainian soldiers put a final defensive holdout to city, Russian President Vlimir Putin asked his soldiers not to risk storming giant steel plant where Ukraine’s Azov battalion is holed up in a maze of underground passages and bunkers. Inste, Putin claimed it victory of Mariupol calling city “liberated.”

A view from cockpit of a Russian Su-30 fighter jet as it takes part in a training mission in Krasnodar Region. Credit: Associated Press

Russia’s ‘Somalia’ battalion, separatist military unit of self-declared Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) was greeted as y returned after siege of Mariupol. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu transferred sovereignty of Ukrainian city of Mariupol under Armed Forces of Russia. Furrmore he declared that second phase of offensive has begun. 

"From beginning of second phase of special operation, it has alrey begun, literally two days ago, one of tasks of Russian army is to establish full control over Donbass and sourn Ukraine,” commander of troops of Central Military District Rustam Minnekaev said, according to RIA.

“This will provide a land corridor to Crimea,” he went on to explain during annual meeting of Union enterprises of defense industry of Sverdlovsk region.

Defensive battles start to gain control of city of Luhansk

Russia’s Ministry of Defense has claimed that its Armed Forces only strike at military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops, and that main goal of operation is liberation of Donbass, a Ukrainian territory that has witnessed 8 years of turmoil between Ukraine’s Army and pro-Russian separatists forces. After nearly two lethal months of heavy shelling that apparently levelled city of Mariupol and caused widespre destruction, Russians has been able to declare victory over most strategic sourn city and has diverted troops towards eastern flank. Russian troops have launched defensive battles to gain control of west starting from city of Luhansk.