Thread by @DanLamothe

Just back from background briefing with a senior U.S. defense official. Important details that the Pentagon is seeing about the assault on Ukraine:

More than 100 missiles launched at Ukrainian targets last night. They came from Belarus, Russia and the sea. Airports and other military targets were the primary emphasis last night. But it appears Russia is moving to take control of Kyiv and other cities next, official says.

"We would describe what you are seeing as an initial phase" of a "large-scale invasion," senior U.S. defense official says. Cautions that the U.S. will not have perfect visibility of what is happening. No U.S. aircraft overhead.

Three main axis of assault so far, official says. From Belarus south, from Crimea north, and from the Belgorad area of Russia to around Kharkiv, official says. Ground incursion from Belarus to north of Kyiv and helicopter troop inserts into Kharkiv area.

"They're making a move on Kyiv," senior U.S. defense official says. "What they're doing with Kyiv is hard to say."

U.S. estimates that about 75 Russian fixed-wing aircraft, including bombers, were involved last night. Among the targets were nearly 10 airfields, senior U.S. defense official says.

No amphibious assault took place. There were rumors of that. False, at least so far.

U.S. making troop movements that President Biden forecast earlier this week today. Two F-35s arriving each to Estonia, Lithuania, Romania. Apache helicopters expected en route to eastern Europe today, weather allowing.

Ukraine is fighting back, senior U.S. defense official says. Was careful in describing how, and from where. Does not want to undermine Ukraine's ability to do so, official says.

"This is their country they're fighting for."

Senior U.S. defense official, longer quote:

“We would describe what we are seeing as an initial phase, and it is likely we will see this unfold in multiple phases. How many? How long? We don’t know. But what we are seeing is initial phases of a large-scale invasion.”

Senior U.S. defense official, at greater length about Russia:

"We still believe -- it is our assessment -- that they have every intention of basically decapitating the government and installing their own method of governance, which would explain these early moves toward Kyiv."

The heaviest ground fighting in Ukraine so far has occurred around Kharkiv, a senior U.S. defense official says, cautioning that could change rapidly.

Senior U.S. defense official:

"We're going to continue to look at the posture in terms of reassurance of the allies and I'm not going to take off the table the possibility that there will be other repositionings inside Europe or perhaps even deployments from the United States."

A shred of good news. Asked about Putin seemingly alluding to the threat of nuclear force, a senior U.S. defense official says this:

"I want to caveat this by saying we can't know perfect detail about their strategic posture. But we don't see an increased threat in that regard."