A background briefing with a senior U.S. defense official about the Russian war on Ukraine has just concluded. It’s Day 22 of the invasion.
Much remains the same:
Much remains the same:
Russia’s advances are largely still stalled. One exception: Pentagon assesses Thursday for the first time that the Russians have seized Izyum, a town southeast of Kharkiv and north of Mariupol.
Russia want to cut off eastern Ukraine from rest of country, U.S. official says.
Russia want to cut off eastern Ukraine from rest of country, U.S. official says.
Front end of beleaguered Russian convoy north of Kyiv remains outside city. But Russian forces have moved up artillery, the senior defense official said, as Russia appears to be readying additional fires.
“They’re trying to wear the city down,” senior defense official says.
“They’re trying to wear the city down,” senior defense official says.
As of Thursday, the Pentagon assesses that Russia has now launched more than 1,000 missiles at Ukraine. That number continues to climb by several dozen per day.
The Pentagon, even on background, is discussing very carefully whether Slovakia could be “backfilled” with some other kind of air-defense system so they can send their S-300 to Ukraine.
No announcement to make, @SecDef said earlier today.
No announcement to make, @SecDef said earlier today.
Pentagon assesses that Russia appears to be relying more on “dumb bombs,” rather than guided munitions.
It’s “possible” that they may be preserving their remaining precision weapons or running short on them, senior defense official says.
It’s “possible” that they may be preserving their remaining precision weapons or running short on them, senior defense official says.
Russia is considering “resupply” from elsewhere, senior defense official says, roughly repeating what he said yesterday. That includes both weapons and personnel.
Senior defense official was asked if it's a national security threat that @RepMTG and others parrot Russian talking points.
Official says that it would be "going too far" to say that lawmakers expressing their opinions is a threat, "whether wrong or right in terms of accuracy."
Official says that it would be "going too far" to say that lawmakers expressing their opinions is a threat, "whether wrong or right in terms of accuracy."
How long could Russia go? Hard to say, official says.
"But they clearly were not prepared to be in the position they are three weeks in, basically frozen around the country on multiple lines of axes."
"But they clearly were not prepared to be in the position they are three weeks in, basically frozen around the country on multiple lines of axes."
Russia appears to be looking for ways to overcome their logistical challenges "from outside Ukraine," official adds.
How soon before Javelins, Stingers and drones identified in aid POTUS approved yesterday will go to Ukraine?
Senior defense official says he isn't sure "and frankly, I don't know if that's the kind of information we're going to be able to give out publicly."
Senior defense official says he isn't sure "and frankly, I don't know if that's the kind of information we're going to be able to give out publicly."
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