President Vladimir Putin hinted at last few week’s NATO summit in Romania that Russia would work to break up Ukraine, should the former Soviet republic join the military alliance, Kommersant reported Monday.

Russia’s armed forces chief warned Friday that Georgia and Ukraine’s desire to join NATO will force Russia to take military steps, Russian news agencies reported.

A ringleader of “Vostok” (East) gang Sulim Yamadayev has came out with his first comment on events in the occupied by Russian invaders Wilayah Nokhchicho (Ichkeria) of the Caucasus Emirate, a standoff between the Yamadayev and Kadyrov gangs.