After the occupation of Crimea, the Russian authorities decided the Sea of Azov could be turned into their territorial waters.

Russian lawyer and human rights activist Nikolay Polozov says Russia wants to occupy Kherson and Mykolayiv regions in Ukraine's south to create the so-called land corridor towards Russian-occupied Crimea.

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"After the occupation of Crimea, the Russian authorities decided the Sea of Azov could be turned into their territorial waters. To build the Kerch Bridge, delineate and heavily militarize the territory, oust Ukraine," he told UA:Pershyi [First] TV Channel, according to the Obozrevatel media outlet.

"This is a kind of base of operations for further occupation of Kherson region, Mykolayiv region, etc. That is, to create prerequisites for conquering the land corridor towards Crimea," Polozov said.