Russia aims to divide Ukraine 'like North and South Korea' after failing to conquer the whole country, Ukrainian military intelligence says

[Rogue Valley]

Russia aims to divide Ukraine 'like North and South Korea' after failing to conquer the whole country, Ukrainian military intelligence says

3.27.22
Russia is now trying to split Ukraine in two after failing to conquer the whole country during its military offensive, according to Ukrainian military intelligence, per Sky News. Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's defense intelligence chief, said on Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to create a situation "like North and South Korea in Ukraine" by dividing the nation and creating a Moscow-controlled state, Sky News reported. After World War II, Korea was divided into Soviet-backed North Korea and US-backed South Korea. Budanov said that Ukraine believes Putin is now prioritizing seizing the east and south of the country, per BBC News. The alleged strategy, Budanov added, involves building a land corridor between the east and Crimea. Putin would then draw a demarcation line separating that area from the rest of Ukraine like there is between South Korea and North Korea, Budanov said, according to BBC News. Budanov said the fierce resistance Russian troops face in "unbreakable" Mariupol, situated in the land corridor Putin purportedly desires, is a major obstacle to this strategy.

Budanov's assessment follows the news of Russian officials signaling this week that the country has moved the goalposts for its invasion of Ukraine, Insider's Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert reported. "The main objectives of the first stage of the operation have generally been accomplished. The combat potential of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been considerably reduced, which, I emphasize once again, makes it possible to focus on the main efforts to achieve the main goal, liberation of Donbas," Russian General Sergei Rudskoi said in a briefing on Friday, Interfax reported. Russia is seemingly scaling back its invasion of Ukraine, which appears to have stalled after being met with strong resistance in Ukraine. It is focusing on the "liberation" of Donbas, it claims. The Donbas region comprises the Luhansk region and the Donetsk region.

Don't believe the Kremlin for a second. Russian forces are still trying to encircle Kyiv. I think the minimum result for Putin is the occupation of Donbas in its entirety (Luhansk/Donetsk oblasts) and a secure land bridge to Crimea.

I also don't believe Ukraine will settle for any Russian occupation of its sovereign territory.

Ukrainian Officer Says Kremlin Plans To Split Country As New Talks To Begin

The head of Ukraine's military intelligence has said Russia hopes to split the country in two as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy again pleaded with the West to send jet fighters to his besieged country.

www.rferl.org

 

[joluoto]

I think Moscow still is after taking over the whole country.

 

[Rogue Valley]

I think Moscow still is after taking over the whole country.

Cen you explain how Moscow plans to accomplish this?

 

[joluoto]

Cen you explain how Moscow plans to accomplish this?

I am sure they are deperate to figure that one out.

 

[Rogue Valley]

I am sure they are deperate to figure that one out.

They couldn't even hold Kherson or encircle Kyiv.

Putin will be rather lucky to get his prized land bridge to Crimea.

 

[Cardinal]

They couldn't even hold Kherson or encircle Kyiv.

Putin will be rather lucky to get his prized land bridge to Crimea.

I’m not even sure that Crimea itself will be uncontested before this is over.