Russia is starting the next phase of 'a special operation in Ukraine', Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"This operation will continue, the next phase of this operation is starting now," Lavrov said in an interview with India Today TV channel, Interfax reports.

“I am sure that this will be a very important moment of the entire special operation,” the minister added.

Lavrov noted that the Russian operation is aimed at "the complete liberation of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics," which was announced initially.