The Motherland Monument in Kyiv. Archival photoMOSCOW, 16 Aug. Losing access to the Black Sea during a Russian special operation will deal a catastrophic blow to Kyiv, wrote National Interest columnist Ilya Timchenko. In his opinion, in such a scenario, Ukraine will turn into a «stump state.» an economic and military strike against Ukraine and make it a stump state without access to the sea,” Timchenko said. “If Russia gets this branch of the gas pipeline, the Kremlin will win another strategic victory,” the article says. Russia has been conducting a military special operation in Ukraine since February 24. According to President Vladimir Putin, the ultimate goal is the liberation of Donbass and the creation of conditions that guarantee the security of Russia itself. Allied forces have already completely liberated the Luhansk People's Republic and a significant part of Donetsk, including Volnovakha, Mariupol and Svyatogorsk. «the end» for Ukraine
