Thread by @jseldin

NEW: #Russia's launched +710 missiles vs #Ukraine, evenly split btw launch points from inside & outside the country, per senior US defense official

NEW: #Russia forces on outskirts of #Kharkiv, advancing 20km in recent days, per senior US defense official

Russian troops also closing in on #Mikolayiv, increasing shelling, official adds

Russian efforts to move on #Kyiv remain stalled - no progress on Day 14 of the invasion

US discussions w/#Ukraine ongoing about defensive needs - "We're doing the best we can to meet them with stuff we can get our hands on" per senior US defense official

Also "actively having discussions w/allies & partners"whose inventories are a closer match to #Kyiv's

US-#Kyiv discussions do involve additional air defense capabilities for #Ukraine vs #Russia, per senior US defense official

#Russia pushing narratives/#disinformation abt US-funded bio weapons labs in #Ukraine

"It is absurd. It is laughable. It is untrue" per senior US defense official

"This is of a piece of the Russian playbook - claim they're the victims..." official warns

"We do have indications that the #Russia|ns are in fact dropping some 'dumb munitions'" per senior US defense official

"It's not totally clear if that is by design or default..." due to problems w/precision-guided systems, official adds

Use of 'dumb bombs' having impact - "What we see manifested is increasing damage to civilian infrastructure & civilian casualties" per senior US defense official

#Russia - "They have made some progress around #Kharkiv & they've made progress in the south toward #Mykolaiv..." & isolated #Mariupol, per senior US defense official

Russian progress "has been uneven" official says

"The #Russia|ns have a pretty extensive surface-to-air missile capability" covering #Ukraine, per senior US defense official

"They overlap...almost all of Ukraine can be covered by at least 1 & usually more than 1 surface-to-air missile system"

Despite #Russia's SAM coverage, #Ukraine still has "vast majority" of their fixed winged fleet (fighter jets, etc) available & operational, per senior US defense official

#Russia still has "roughly 90%" of their pre-staged combat power available for its use in #Ukraine, per senior US defense official

But Russia has lost "several hundred vehicles" to date, per the official

#Ukraine air defense systems "remains viable. It remains effective" per senior US defense official

Official says as a result, "The airspace over #Ukraine remains contested"

#Russia-#Ukraine

"No indications that the #Russia|ns are trying to gather any additional combat forces...draw resources from anywhere else" for efforts in #Ukraine aside from Russian mercenaries, possible #foreignfighters from #Syria, per senior US defense official

US #Patriot batteries have arrived in #Poland, per senior US defense official

"It is a purely defensive deployment...100% in keeping w/the serious with which we take [@NATO] Article 5 commitments"

US military aid to #Ukraine - "We we see what they're using w/great effect. That's the type of stuff we're trying to get into their hands" per senior US defense official

#Ukraine use of fixed-wing aircraft vs #Russia - "They are depending on other capabilities to a greater extent" per senior US defense official

#Russia's "moderate progress" near #Kharkiv & elsewhere - "They have mass on their side. They simply have more forces than the #Ukrainians do" per senior US defense official

"But they're meeting w/a stiff resistance...particularly in Kharkiv"