Russia's goal, according to a senior Russian general, is to seize southern Ukraine and create a corridor to the separatist region of Transnistria in Moldova.
Maj Gen Rustam Minnekayev stated that Moscow would seek "complete control" of the south in addition to the eastern Donbas region, which the Russian authorities have stated is their stated goal.
Transnistria is a small region bordering Ukraine that is backed by Russia.
It is unknown whether Gen Minnekayev's remarks were sanctioned on an official level.
Russian defense officials told the BBC's Steve Rosenberg that they were "investigating" the general's remarks, which, if confirmed, provide the first glimpse into Russia's possible plans in the coming weeks.
Moldova summoned the Russian ambassador in response to the remarks.Meanwhile, a senior EU official told Reuters that Russia is likely to ratchet up its attacks in eastern Ukraine and along the country's southern coast in the coming days, adding that the next two weeks could prove decisive in the war.
It comes as the BBC learned that European Council President Charles Michel brought up Russia's "miscalculations and losses" in its invasion of Ukraine during a phone call with President Vladimir Putin on Friday.Transnistria, a small Russian-speaking breakaway region, shares a western border with Ukraine. It declared independence from the Soviet Union following the collapse of the Soviet Union in a bloody conflict, but is not recognized internationally and remains an official part of Moldova.
Since 1995, as part of a truce agreement, a small detachment of approximately 1,500 Russian troops has been stationed in the region.Gen Minnekayev was speaking at a military event in the Sverdlovsk region as the deputy commander of Russia's central military district.
"Control over southern Ukraine is another route to Transnistria, where there is also evidence of oppression of the Russian-speaking population," Gen Minnekayev explained.
Prior to launching the invasion on 24 February, Mr Putin made similar claims about alleged discrimination against Russian-speaking Ukrainians.
Ukraine's defence ministry condemned Gen Minnekayev's remarks as "imperialism" by Russia.
Ukraine's officials said in a statement posted on Twitter that Russia had "acknowledged that the'second phase' of the war's objective is not victory over the mythical Nazis, but rather the occupation of eastern and southern Ukraine."
Later in the day, the Moldovan foreign ministry issued a statement rejecting the comments as "unfounded and contradictory to Russia's position in support of our country's sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders."
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Russia intends to stage a series of phony independence referendums in occupied territories in order to establish a series of pro-Russian breakaway states."If they ask you to complete questionnaires or leave your passport data in a secure location, you should be aware that this is not for your benefit," he warned.
"This is intended to sabotage the so-called referendum on your land if Moscow orders such a show to be staged. This is how things are. Caution is necessary."
According to a spokesperson for Ukraine's defense ministry, referendums are scheduled in the coming weeks in Kherson and occupied areas surrounding Zaporizhzhia.
Oleksandr Motuzianik asserted that the polls will take place concurrently with the Russian military's forced conscription of some men.
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