Ensure Russia Continues Special Military Operations in Ukraine, Kremlin: At Least Liberate The Entire Donetsk Region

JAKARTA - The Kremlin has confirmed that "special military operations" in Ukraine must continue, at least until it captures all of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

In a phone call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), a Russia-backed breakaway entity that has been battling Ukrainian forces since 2014, only controls part of the wider territory it claims.

"Therefore, at least it is necessary to liberate the entire territory of the DPR," Peskov said, citing Reuters on September 29.

Russia has framed its military campaign in Ukraine to protect Russian-speaking speakers in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, half of which consists of Donetsk, from "genocide" by Ukraine.

Both Kyiv and Western countries say this is a figleaf for imperial-style land grabs.

Although Russia already controls almost all of Lugansk, the other half of the Donbas, it controls only about 60 percent of Donetsk.

The Moscow-backed entities in Donetsk and Lugansk, along with two other Russian-occupied territories in southern Ukraine, are seeking to become part of Russia after they complete the referendum.