Ukraine's navy intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov mentioned Sunday that he believes Russia needs to separate the nation in two, likening the continuing battle to the division of North and South Korea after World Warfare II.

"Actually, it's an try to create North and South Korea in Ukraine," mentioned Budanov, in line with Reuters, who added that Ukraine's military would strongly push again in opposition to Russian forces to forestall that from taking place.

"As well as, the season of a complete Ukrainian guerrilla safari will quickly start. Then there might be one related situation left for the Russians: the best way to survive," he mentioned.

On the identical day, a frontrunner within the self-proclaimed Luhansk Individuals's Republic, positioned in separatist Donbas area of Ukraine, mentioned it might quickly maintain a referendum on becoming a member of Russia, in line with Reuters. Donbas is the location of each Luhansk and Donetsk, two breakaway areas within the japanese a part of the nation which can be managed by Russian-backed separatists.

In the meantime, a prime Russian basic mentioned Friday that troops will shift their focus within the struggle towards "liberating" japanese Ukraine.

"Our forces and means will think about the primary factor—the whole liberation of Donbas," mentioned Normal Sergey Rudskoy, the top of the primary operational directorate of the Russian Normal Employees.

A senior U.S. protection official confirmed the change of plans to ABC Information on Saturday, saying that it's believed Russia is in search of to make beneficial properties in japanese Ukraine as a "potential negotiating tactic on the desk," and to chop off Ukrainian forces in that a part of the nation.

Ukraine War
A prime Ukrainian official mentioned Sunday that Russia is making an attempt to divide the nation into two, like North and South Korea. Above, a Ukrainian soldier walks in a trench close to the Russian border on December 12, 2021 in Zolote, Ukraine.Brendan Hoffman/Getty Pictures

Jap Ukraine has lengthy been a hotly contested area. Following Russia's annex of Crimea in 2014, rebels loyal to Moscow seized authorities buildings in Donetsk and Luhansk, and commenced a protracted and bloody means of claiming the area as their very own. Over 13,000 folks have died combating within the area since.

In response to Rudskoy, Russian-backed separatists now management 93 p.c of the Luhansk area and 54 p.c of the Donetsk area.

Russia's plan to deal with Ukraine's japanese entrance comes after greater than 4 weeks of combating throughout the nation. Thus far, Russian troops have didn't seize any main Ukrainian metropolis, however the invasion has displaced an estimated 10 million folks and killed over 1,100 Ukrainian civilians, in line with the United Nations.

On Saturday, President Joe Biden referred to as Russian President Vladimir Putin a "butcher," and claimed in a fiery speech that he "can't stay in energy." Nonetheless, the White Home tried to stroll again these statements shortly after, stating that the U.S. has no technique for a regime change in Russia.

Newsweek contacted Russia's international ministry for extra remark, however didn't hear again in time for publication.