Moldova

The Russian defence ministry has published plans to take the Donbas region, create a land corridor to Crimea, and “take control of southern Ukraine” with an ...

Phase two is being conducted by a regrouped and rearmed Russian army in the east. The question is, could Moldova be next? Despite Russian claims the city has already fallen, this plant - one of the largest in Europe - is still stopping them taking complete control of the city - and being able to move their troops elsewhere. This is largely the push south towards the port of Mariupol and east to the Donbas region. Since Russia abandoned its efforts to capture Kyiv and left the north of the country, analysts and intelligence officials have been referring to the 'second phase' of the war in Ukraine. The Russian defence ministry has published plans to take the Donbas region, create a land corridor to Crimea, and “take control of southern Ukraine” with an “exit to Transnistria”.

Two months into the invasion of Ukraine, a Russian military commander suggested Friday that Moscow aims to establish a corridor through southern Ukraine to ...

And even though Transnistria is backed by Moscow and hosts Russian troops, that may not mean its residents want to get involved in the war. Moldova summoned Russia’s ambassador later Friday to express “deep concern” over Minnekaev’s comments. It was unclear whether Minnekaev’s statement reflects the official Kremlin line.

"We are now at war with the whole world," said Russian Major General Rustam Minnekayev.

There have been concerns about the consequences that Russia's invasion of Ukraine might have for its neighbors. Before his invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of pursuing "genocide" of the Russian-speaking population in the eastern Donbas region. He said that the aim of the second phase of the invasion of Ukraine, which the Kremlin calls a "special military operation," was to establish "full control" over the Donbas and southern Ukraine.

A leading Kremlin military figure claims Moscow wants to create a corridor to a disputed region of Moldova claimed by Russian separatists.

However, doubts remain over the effectiveness of Mr Putin’s forces, which would have to capture hundreds of miles of well defended Ukrainian territory between the Donbas and Odesa to create a link between Russia and Moldova. Mr Putin’s threat to expand his war in Ukraine comes a day after Moldovan President Maia Sandu signed a law banning the ribbon of St George, a black and orange military symbol of Russian patriotism which has come to symbolise aggression against Ukraine, as well as the signs Z and V used by Russian armed forces to mark their vehicles. The extraordinary detail released by Russia about its plans for the war in Ukraine will also raise fears that Mr Putin may invade other former Soviet states that are not members of Nato such as Georgia. If Mr Putin attempts to take the Nato-member Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania the West, including the US and UK, would be dragged into a war with Russia.

VLADIMIR PUTIN'S plot to invade Moldova has been revealed as Russia outlines the 'second stage' of its brutal war in Ukraine.

"This most of all kills the morale of the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He added: "Control over the south of Ukraine is another way to Transdniestria, where there is also evidence that the Russian-speaking population is being oppressed." "Control over the South of Ukraine is another outlet to Transnistria, where there are also facts of oppression of the Russian-speaking population.

Major Gen. Rustam Minnekayev said Friday the Russian army has been tasked with establishing “full control over the Donbas and southern Ukraine,” adding that “ ...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday Russia had started its new offensive in eastern Ukraine, which has included intense bombardment of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. The city has massive cultural significance for both Ukrainians and Russians, being founded by Russian Empress Catherine the Great in 1794. Odesa is the largest city in southern Ukraine, and the third-largest in the country overall.

Russia plans to take full control of Donbas and southern Ukraine during the second phase of what it calls its special military operation, ...

In the first days ... the tactics of Ukrainian units were designed to ensure that, having pulled ahead, individual groups of Russian troops fell into pre prepared ambushes and suffered losses," RIA cited him as saying. Mariupol sits between areas held by Russian separatists and Crimea. Its capture would allow Russia to link the two areas. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The last Ukrainian fighters left in the port city of Mariupol in Donbas are holed up at a vast industrial facility which President Vladimir Putin has ordered to be blockaded rather than stormed. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

The deputy commander of Russia's central military district, Rustam Minnekayev, yesterday hinted troops could be moved further west to protect 'oppressed' ...

The soldier told the BBC: 'All the buildings in the territory of Azovstal are practically destroyed. 'Shoigu has to read his comments to Putin and slurs badly, suggesting that the rumours of his heart attack are likely. The soldier told the BBC: 'All the buildings in the territory of Azovstal are practically destroyed. 'We estimate that at least 3,000 civilians have died because they couldn't get medical care and because of the stress on their health amid the hostilities,' Bachelet said. Shoigu does not appear to have fared any better in the eight weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine, with the defence minister slurring his words and reading from his notes following an apparent heart attack Peskov admits that the head of state 'had a cold' In spite of recent Russian successes in eastern Ukraine, the plans as outlined by Minnekaev are considered ambitious. Capturing the biggest southern city of Odessa would be a huge military undertaking and the port is well defended. The Russian leader also accused Kyiv of refusing to allow their Mariupol troops to surrender. Major Alexander Shepel (left), 35, battalion commander of the second motorised rifles, was blown up by an anti-tank mine. Russia has stepped up operations in eastern Ukraine, seizing 42 villages in the Donetsk region. Russian forces already occupy most of the territory there and, as Western officials have conceded, they are in a position to achieve their military objectives.