RUSSIA appeared to admit defeat in its bid to destabilise Kyiv on Friday, when the Kremlin stated that it will now only focus on “liberating” pro-Moscow separatist regions.

As the fierce resistance retakes towns up to 21 miles east of Kiev, Moscow signalled that it would scale back its invasion to focus on territory claimed by Russian-backed separatists.

The Russian army declared that the first phase of its military campaign had concluded, and that troops would now focus on the complete “liberation” of the country’s eastern Donbas region.

However, Ukrainian defenders will remain wary of Russian rhetoric, with the Kremlin’s downplaying of its so-called “special operation” seen as a familiar tactic to sow false confidence ahead of a renewed assault.

“The main tasks of the first stage of the operation have been completed,” said Sergei Rudskoi, chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of Russia’s armed forces, on Friday.

“The combat potential of Ukraine’s armed forces has been significantly reduced, which allows (us) – I emphasise once again – to focus our main efforts on achieving the main goal – the liberation of Donbas.”

He claimed Russian forces had “practically” destroyed Ukraine’s air force and anti-aircraft defences, as well as the navy.