Thread by @DanLamothe

A Saturday morning background briefing with a senior U.S. defense official about the war in Ukraine just concluded.

First takeaway: Russian reconnaissance troops are now in and near Kyiv, the capital, even as main Russian advanced is about 30 kilometers north, official said.

The official declined to say whether these forces are Spetsnaz. By virtue of their role, they'd attempt to prep the battlefield for further advancement.

That said: Stiff resistance remains. Russian forces are “increasingly frustrated” by their lack of momentum, official says.

Airspace over Ukraine remains contested, U.S. official says, in contradiction to expectations before the invasion that Russia would quickly seize control of the skies.

Ukrainian jets and air-defense systems are active and continue to “engage and deny," U.S. official says.

U.S. official says that while the Russians advance on Kyiv and there is fighting there, the heaviest battles in Ukraine were still near the northeastern city of Kharkiv.

All of that could quickly change, of course.

As of Saturday morning in Washington, the Pentagon had observed more than 250 missiles launched on Ukrainian targets, up from more than 200 on Friday, senior U.S. defense official says.

Senior U.S. defense official about Russian missile attacks:

“There’s no doubt in our mind that civilian infrastructure and civilian areas are being hit as a result of these barrages."

Pentagon also notes the expanding refugee population.

“We do continue to see increases in the numbers of people trying to leave the country," senior U.S. defense official says. "The lines are stacking up on the Ukrainian side of the border with Poland. In some cases very long.”

Shortly before this briefing, the State Department announced an additional $350 million in security assistance going to the Ukrainians. U.S. defense official says that will include more Javelin missiles, anti-armor weapons that the Ukrainians want.

Weapons deliveries to Ukraine occurred via transport plane prior to invasion. That isn't happening now. But U.S. official says deliveries have continued, even in last few days.

Asked about ground routes, official implied that would be one possibility but did not specify.

Final point: As of Saturday morning in Washington, not a single major Ukrainian city has fallen to Russia, days after this invasion began.

Outgunned or not, the Ukrainians are making this painful for Putin and his army.

Post-script about weapons: Senior U.S. defense official was asked if the U.S. will now send Stinger missiles, man-portable antiaircraft weapons (which Baltic allies have previously, for the record).

Official declined to go beyond saying Javelins will be included.

I don't have a read at the moment on whether that's because the U.S. isn't sending Stingers (something they did in the 1980s after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan) or because the U.S. is sending them but wants to hold that detail back for Ukraine's benefit.