Thread by @jseldin

BREAKING: Senior US defense official says #Russia's ops in #Ukraine just getting started

"What we are seeing is initial phases of a large scale invasion" per the official "They're making a move on #Kyiv"

BREAKING: #Russia op "clearly designed to take key population centers" per senior US defense official

"They have every intention of decapitating the [#Ukraine] government"

US seeing 3 lines of attack from #Russia, per senior defense official

- southern advance from #Crimea to #Kherson
- north-central advance from #Belarus to #Kyiv
- advance on #Kharkhiv, which is seeing the heaviest fighting

Initial #Russia onslaught involved +100 mostly short range ballistic missiles, but also medium range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles, per senior US defense official

Also 75 bombers used for airstrikes

#Russia targeting mostly #Ukraine military sites - barracks, warehouses, airfields, per senior US defense official

No assessment yet of damages or casualties

Full scope of #Russia electronic warfare capabilities have not come into play in #Ukraine invasion, per senior US defense official

#Ukraine military - "We have seen indications they are resisting & fighting back" per senior US defense official

US still looking at ways to support Ukraine military with lethal & non-lethal aid, official adds

"We have seen an increase in ppl trying to leave #Ukraine...but we can't quantify that right now" per senior US defense official "We are seeing an uptick"

Many heading to #Poland

"We believe that this is just an initial phase" per senior US defense official on #Russia invasion of #Ukraine

"Certainly not a majority" of the +150,000 Russian troops being used "at this point" the official says

#Russia invasion of #Ukraine - "We haven't been surprised by what we've seen unfold so far" per senior US defense official

Russian attack plan "very much in line w/what our initial expectations were"