The Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday that its forces will focus on the complete liberation of Donbas and that the army hasn't ruled out the possibility of storming blockaded Ukrainian cities, reported Interfax cited by Reuters. Russia was considering two options for its "special military operation", the Defense Ministry continued, one within the Donbas separatist republics and one within the whole territory of Ukraine.

Russian troops will react immediately to any attempts to close the airspace of Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry warned, adding that it is a big mistake that the West supplied weapons to Ukraine, given that it draws out the conflict. The main targets of the first phase of Russia's operation in Ukraine are complete, they added.