Russia scales back offensive on Kyiv, focuses on Donbass separatist region

Multiple media reports indicate that Russia is scaling down its offensive in Ukraine's capital city of Kyiv and shifting its attention to the separatist region of Donbass in the East.

The Reuters reported that the Russian defence ministry has said it the first phase of their Ukraine operation is nearly over and it would now focus on pro-Russia regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

The defence ministry said that Russia-backed separatists now controlled 93% of Ukraine's Luhansk region and 54% of the Donetsk region which jointly make up Donbass.

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The Donbass is the largely Russian-speaking eastern industrial heartland of Ukraine where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014.