Ukraine war: Russia 'plans to seize southern Ukraine'

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

"Control over the south of Ukraine is another way out to Transnistria, where there are also facts of oppression of the Russian-speaking population," Gen Minnekayev said.

Mr Putin made similar claims about the alleged discrimination against Russian speakers in Ukraine before launching the invasion on 24 February.

(snip)

In a statement posted to Twitter, Ukrainian officials said Russia had "acknowledged that the goal of the 'second phase' of the war is not victory over the mythical Nazis, but simply the occupation of eastern and southern Ukraine".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia is planning on holding a series of sham independence referendums in occupied regions to create a series of pro-Russian breakaway states.

(snip)

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61188943

[PortTack]

1. Never gonna happen! Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦