Russia started the special military operation in Ukraine with the goal of liberating the industrialized Eastern Donbas region, comprising the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts. Before launching the full-scale invasion, Russia officially recognised the autonomy of these two separatist self-declared republics. With the Russian capture of Severodonetsk and the retreat of the Ukrainian troops from their last stronghold in the city of Lysychansk, the entire Luhansk province is now under the control of Russian forces. From here, capturing the adjoining and the other self-proclaimed republic of Donetsk will be the Russian agenda. The Russian firepower will now be directed to areas like Siversk, Bakhmut, Sloviansk, and Kramatorsk. Meanwhile, Ukraine will attempt to counter the Russian onslaught with the help of aid and weapons from the western nations. The Russian focus seems to have been on Donbas, given the early failures to capture Kyiv and other areas in Ukraine's northeast.
#russia #ukraine #war
#putin #UPSC
