UNITED NATIONS, February 28. /TASS/. Russia, before the start of the special military operation in Donbass, had gained information that Kiev was preparing an operation against Donbass, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said at a news conference on Monday.

"You all know that we have said many times that we are not planning a military operation in Donbass unless the Ukrainian authorities and the military directly threaten these republics," he said. "This is exactly what happened. We had reliable information that a military operation was planned."

"It was a move that was inevitable under the circumstances," the envoy went on to say.