Thread by @jseldin

NEW: #Ukraine forces retrograde from #Sieverodonetsk - "putting themselves in better position" to defend themselves, per a US senior defense official, saying US #HIMARS, artillery assistance will help

"The Russians are just eeking out inch by inch of territory" per the official

US training in place to make sure #Ukraine forces can use the #HIMARS & other "@NATO-standard systems", per a senior US defense official

Latest US aid to #Ukraine result of "extensive consultations" w/Ukrainian officials, per a senior US defense official

Says US officials consulting w/Ukrainian officials on aid & "moving heaven & earth" to get it to them

#Germany, #Britain, #Slovakia & #Poland also providing #Ukraine forces w/artillery systems like the M270, per a senior US defense official

1st batch of 4 #HIMARS are in #Ukraine serviced by a crew trained on operations & maintenance, per a senior US defense official

2nd #Ukraine platoon currently undergoing training on new HIMARS, which could be ready to deploy in July, per the official

#Soviet weapons/supplies that could go to #Ukraine are dwindling but "that doesn't mean we've reached rock bottom" per a sr US defense official

US still talking to countries "who are very much willing" to provide the equipment if they can replace it w/@NATO standard equipment

US boats to #Ukraine - part of just announced aid package - mostly meant to help defend rivers, per a senior US defense official

But they can also be used for close-in defense in coastal areas, per the official

#HIMARS to #Ukraine: "It isn't about volume - it's about precise targeting" per a senior US defense official

Official notes #Britain, #Germany also providing MLRS systems to #Kyiv

#Sieverodonetsk - #Ukraine conducting a "professional, tactical retrograde in order to consolidate their forces into positions so they can better defend themselves" from #Russia forces, per a senior US defense official

#Sieverodonetsk - "I do say with confidence that the #Russia|ns have suffered heavy casualties" & heavy equipment losses, per a senior US defense official

Russian forces "showing the signs of wear & tear...it is impacting their ability to move forward swiftly"

#Russia has a "limited ability to mobilize additional forces" for war in #Ukraine, per a senior US defense official

"They are operating within some pretty significant constraints", per the official

"#Ukraine has denied Russia air superiority - #Russia does not control the skies" per a senior US defense official

Says US continuing to work w/#Kyiv on air defense

Getting #Ukraine forces training on #HIMARS, other weapon systems - "They are able to pull ppl out of the country and train them...it hasn't held us up. It hasn't held the #Ukrainians up" per a senior US defense official

#Russia retaliation - "Russia is trying to thwart the supply" of aid to #Ukraine & that is unlikely to change, per a senior US defense official

"No evidence of any #Russia|n success in intercepting" US security assistance to #Ukraine, per a senior US defense official

"What we are doing across the board to strengthen the #Ukrainian armed forces...will enable them to continue to defend #Kyiv" & not just the #Donbas, per a senior US defense official

US #HIMARS giving #Ukraine forces range of 70km - "That twice what they have w/the #Howitzers we're providing them" per a senior US defense official

"From an examination of the battlefield [in the #Donbas]...they don't need more than that range"