Russiaʼs Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu said that "in general, the main tasks of the first stage of the special operation [in Ukraine] have been completed," now "we can focus on the main goal," capturing the whole Donbas territory, the Insider reported.
Shoigu says that Russia had allegedly destroyed Ukraineʼs air and naval forces, and now it could switch to the Ukrainian east. Shoigu also said that Russia would go all out "to achieve this goal."