Russia updates on Ukraine military operation

The deputy chief of the Russian general staff said that the main objectives of the first stage of the military operation in Ukraine - reducing Ukraine's fighting capacity - have "generally been accomplished," allowing Russian forces to focus on "the main goal, liberation of Donbas".

The Donbas is the largely Russian-speaking eastern part of the country where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014 and where many residents have expressed support for Moscow. Col.-Gen. Sergei Rudskoi said on Friday that Russian troops have blocked Kyiv, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and Mykolaiv.