Thread by @jseldin

Day 124 of #Russia war in #Ukraine: 4 #HIMARS in Ukraine - "All indications are they are employing them very well" per senior US defense official

Says US working to get the additional 4 HIMARS in country, training wrapping up soon

#Russian missile strikes vs #Kyiv - "We're not quite sure abt the #Russian objective of the strikes", per senior US defense official

Says could be protest vs #G7 or due to introduction of #HIMARS to #Ukraine

Little #Russia|n movement out of #Severodonestk, per senior US defense official

#Russia|n general relieved - "We do continue to see concerns w/that leadership & continue morale problems w/#Russi|n forces" per senior US defense official

#HIMARS - new #Russia|n strikes vs #Kyiv #Odesa - "I don't want to connect the two" senior US defense official clarifies

#Ukraine use of #HIMARS - against command & control, logistics, large concentration of troops
per senior US defense official

#Russia strike that hit apartment complex in #Kyiv - "They were trying to hit a military target" per senior US defense official, who says the complex is close to a plant that manufacturers ammo, etc.

Willingness & ability of #Ukraine military - forces shown a resilience vs #Russia "that is just surprising in many cases" per senior US defense official

#Ukraine's ability to hold #Severodonesk "is really something we'll probably all study in the future" per senior US defense official

"The Ukrainians are making them [#Russia] pay for a very small piece of ground...leaving those locations of their own accord"

#Russia|ns continuing to talk about employing reserves "speaks to the impact that the Ukrainians are taking on the Russian army" per senior US defense official

Reports #Russia needing to bring in retired generals - "It would make sense that they would start to run shy of senior leaders" per senior US defense official

Importance of #Sievierodonetsk - partially symbolic

"If I'm a Ukrainian, every inch to Ukrainian soil is important to me" per senior US defense official, who says #Ukraine will be able to rally around the toll its forces exacted on #Russia there

#Ukraine asking for more air support "from helicopters & airplanes as well as missiles" per senior US defense official

US working w/Ukraine to meet those needs, per the official

"The #Russia|ns have learned from their earlier fight [in #Ukraine]...they're using artillery & missiles in a way they certainly have an advantage" per senior US defense official

But says Russian forces also paying heavy price for small gains

#Putin's announcement about #Russia giving #Belarus nuclear capable missiles - "Everybody takes it very seriously when you use that language" per senior US defense official "I can't think of a more irresponsible thing for a senior leader to say"

#Russia's recent missile barrage vs #Ukraine - "larger number of strikes last week than what we have seen" per senior US defense official

Official says no sense yet of exactly why or what Russia was trying to achieve overall

"There were more missiles fired last week than we've seen in recent weeks" per senior US defense official

"I can't tell you exactly why" per the official who repeats it could be connected to #G7, #Ukraine use of #HIMARS...

#Kherson - We're aware of growing indications of resistance against the Russian occupation" per sr US defense official

"Over the last several days, we've become aware of assassinations of local #Russia|n officials..."

"We're also aware that reporting suggests the #Ukrainians have been successful in liberating several small towns northwest & west of #Kherson, showing that despite tactical success by the Russians, they [#Ukraine] continue to hold on" per sr US defense official