Senior U.S. defense officials wrapped up a briefing a while ago describing how the Pentagon sees Russia's war in Ukraine on day 54.
Here are some of the highlights, including Russia's military footprint in Donbas and the latest shipments of U.S. weapons to Ukraine.
Here are some of the highlights, including Russia's military footprint in Donbas and the latest shipments of U.S. weapons to Ukraine.
First off, DoD officials briefed on weapons going into Ukraine.
The turnaround from U.S. to the battlefield in Ukraine is moving as quickly as 48 - 72 hours.
But we're not getting much fidelity on whether U.S. is providing 🇺🇦 enough ammo.
The turnaround from U.S. to the battlefield in Ukraine is moving as quickly as 48 - 72 hours.
But we're not getting much fidelity on whether U.S. is providing 🇺🇦 enough ammo.
https://twitter.com/JackDetsch/status/1516439688449568771
Russian missile launches into Ukraine have plateaued around 30 a day over the course of the 54-day conflict.
That's way down from the 50 a day average 🇷🇺 was firing in the early going.
But Ukraine has been obscured by clouds, limiting U.S. visibility.
That's way down from the 50 a day average 🇷🇺 was firing in the early going.
But Ukraine has been obscured by clouds, limiting U.S. visibility.
https://twitter.com/JackDetsch/status/1516441350333509632
The Pentagon is being much more conservative in describing Russia's military operations in Donbas than Zelensky.
U.S. thinks this is a prelude to a bigger offensive, with 🇷🇺 still adding troops.
🇷🇺 is now up to 78 BTGs in Ukraine, up 13 from last week.
U.S. thinks this is a prelude to a bigger offensive, with 🇷🇺 still adding troops.
🇷🇺 is now up to 78 BTGs in Ukraine, up 13 from last week.
https://twitter.com/JackDetsch/status/1516441677141057542
The US will deliver SEVEN planeloads of military aid bound for Ukraine to the region in the next 24 hr from Biden $800m package. Another flight arrived yday.
🇺🇸 is prioritizing deliveries of artillery systems, after Zelensky asked for as many as possible
🇺🇸 is prioritizing deliveries of artillery systems, after Zelensky asked for as many as possible
https://twitter.com/JackDetsch/status/1516442332018745355
The U.S. sees Russia's focus so far on Donetsk and Izyum
But this is a bit more conservative than Ukraine's military, which is describing Russian attacks all along defensive lines in and around Donbas, including in Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk.
But this is a bit more conservative than Ukraine's military, which is describing Russian attacks all along defensive lines in and around Donbas, including in Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk.
https://twitter.com/JackDetsch/status/1516442964297457665
Russia added 2 battalion tactical groups into Ukraine in the last 24 hr, US believes.
🇷🇺 is massing aviation & combat support in Belarus & Western Russia.
That's a lesson learned from the Kyiv campaign, where Russia lacked proper logistical support.
🇷🇺 is massing aviation & combat support in Belarus & Western Russia.
That's a lesson learned from the Kyiv campaign, where Russia lacked proper logistical support.
https://twitter.com/JackDetsch/status/1516450869562474496
Russia still has a lot of its arsenal left for the Ukraine fight, including aviation & ballistic missiles.
But it's down to just 65 % of the 120 BTGs it started with before the invasion.
Perhaps up to 20 % of them were refitting outside 🇺🇦 recently.
But it's down to just 65 % of the 120 BTGs it started with before the invasion.
Perhaps up to 20 % of them were refitting outside 🇺🇦 recently.
https://twitter.com/JackDetsch/status/1516445701290569730
Russia has a shorter logistical tail to fight in Donbas, since it is right on the border and more conducive to tank warfare, officials said.
But it still has 11 BTGs tied down in besieged Mariupol, which 🇷🇺 wants to seize to build a land bridge to Crimea
But it still has 11 BTGs tied down in besieged Mariupol, which 🇷🇺 wants to seize to build a land bridge to Crimea
https://twitter.com/JackDetsch/status/1516444919954616320
U.S. believes that Russia is targeting last holdout at Mariupol's steel factory with long-range fires.
🇺🇦 said Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bombers are firing on Mariupol.
It's not clear 🇷🇺 pilots are entering 🇺🇦 airspace with air defense still active
🇺🇦 said Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bombers are firing on Mariupol.
It's not clear 🇷🇺 pilots are entering 🇺🇦 airspace with air defense still active
https://twitter.com/JackDetsch/status/1516449700827783168
Here's the 🇷🇺 gameplan, in a nutshell:
🇷🇺 military is “trying to learn and adapt to some of the mistakes they made earlier in the war," especially Kyiv, per sr US defense official said.
Russia intends "to come both from north & south and to cut off the Donbas,” official added
🇷🇺 military is “trying to learn and adapt to some of the mistakes they made earlier in the war," especially Kyiv, per sr US defense official said.
Russia intends "to come both from north & south and to cut off the Donbas,” official added
That's it for today.
If you enjoyed this, there's more in my story with @RobbieGramer up on @ForeignPolicy about Russia's early campaign in the Donbas.
foreignpolicy.com/2022/04/19/rus…
If you enjoyed this, there's more in my story with @RobbieGramer up on @ForeignPolicy about Russia's early campaign in the Donbas.
foreignpolicy.com/2022/04/19/rus…
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