Putin Emphasizes Donbas as Main Objective in Ukraine Amidst Ongoing Military Operations

In a recent statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that his primary objective in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is the capture of the eastern Donbas area. He claimed that Ukraine's counter-offensive in Kursk had unwittingly facilitated this goal. This declaration came in the wake of a deadly strike by Russia on Ukraine's western Lviv region and during recent advances by Moscow's forces in the Donbas.

Putin says "main" goal is to capture Ukraine's Donbas

Since the commencement of the offensive in February 2022, Russia has shifted its focus from attempting to capture the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, to seeking control over eastern Ukraine.

Putin emphasized that Ukraine's unexpected incursion into Russia's Kursk region last month did not deter Moscow's progress in the occupied areas of Ukraine. Quoting Putin, "The aim of the enemy (in Kursk) was to force us to worry, hustle, divert troops and to stop our offensive in key areas, especially in the Donbas, the liberation of which is our main primary objective," during a forum held in Vladivostok, in Russia's far east.

Russia asserts ownership of the eastern Donetsk region and three other Ukrainian regions, claiming substantial advancement and positioning its troops close to the city of Pokrovsk, a crucial logistics hub in eastern Ukraine.

Claims and Counterclaims

Putin alleged that Ukraine's well-prepared units deployed in Kursk had inadvertently expedited Moscow's advance in Donbas."The enemy weakened itself in key areas; our army has accelerated its offensive operations," he contended.

Furthermore, Putin asserted that Russian forces have started to displace Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region, although these claims remain unverified. Despite the initial lack of a large-scale response from Russia to Ukraine's incursion, which marked the most significant on Russian soil since World War II, Putin's rhetoric has become increasingly assertive, stating, "It is the holy duty of the Russian army to do everything to throw out the enemy from this territory and to protect our citizens." dialogue and diplomacy, aiming to de-escalate tensions and foster conditions conducive to a sustainable resolution.