La Russia heralds the end of what he calls the "first phase" of the war in Ukraine. Basically, after a month of fighting, Moscow would decide to withdraw from Kiev to settle for military objectives already conquered.
In fact, the Kremlin claims that it has never aimed at anything other than "to the total liberation of Donbass”, the southeast region that has been disputed for eight years and where the fighting has become more intense in recent hours. During a defense briefing, General Sergei Rudskoy defined "primary objective" the protection of the populations of Lugansk and Donetsk, the two republics that have declared themselves autonomous from Ukraine and which so far only Russia has recognized.
The novelty could have a decisive impact on the duration of the conflict. According to diplomatic sources quoted by the newspaper La Repubblica, Moscow would have already set a symbolic date to declare “victory”: the 9st May, the anniversary of the end of World War II and the victory of the Soviets and the Allies over Nazi Germany. The deadline has already been communicated to the troops as well.
It remains unknown whether Moscow will still want to go further, go as far as Odessa and close access to the Neo Sea altogether to the Ukrainians.
Yesterday the Russian Defense also provided, for the second time since the beginning of the invasion, an official number of the fallen: for Moscow there would be 1.351 dead and 3.825 wounded, while Kiev and the United States provide much higher estimates.
