Yesterday on an official trip with Deputy U.S. Defense Secretary Hicks, my phone was confiscated by a DoD official, locked up and I was stopped from using electronics because of a new policy that bars non-US reporters from using devices on govt planes. (Pic taken by US citizen) This policy was the first time I had experienced this after covering dozens of Pentagon trips across three administrations. It means that we can’t do the very thing I’m supposed to on these trips, which is write stories.

Russia now has 76 battalion tactical groups in Ukraine now, a slight increase in recent days, a senior U.S. defense official says. The U.S. official says the United States has no evidence that the sunken Russian warship had nuclear weapons when it went down. (contrary to Twitter gossip)

Pentagon's new strategy will describe Russia as an "acute threat" but one that cannot post a long-term systemic challenge to the United States, the number three Pentagon official says. @ColinKahl adds that Russia will emerge weaker militarily and politically from its invasion of Ukraine.

Senior U.S. Defense official says Russia's movement in Ukraine is still stalled, no tangible progress in past 24 hours. The United States has seen increased Russian activity in the northern Black Sea, the official says.

Fourteen countries have delivered security assistance to Ukraine since Russia's invasion nine days ago, a U.S. official says. Official says there is no evidence of Russia trying to stop the shipments of weapons to Ukrainians.

U.S. assesses Putin has put in 90 percent of pre-staged combat power in Ukraine, a senior U.S. official says. Mariupol is still under Ukrainian control but Russian forces appear to try to isolate city, U.S. official says.

Russia has become more aggressive in targeting infrastructure in Ukraine, a senior U.S. official says. Increase in missiles and artillery targeting Kyiv, official says.

U.S believes Russia has committed more than 80 pct of its pre-staged combat power in Ukraine, U.S. official says. U.S. believes Russia's main advance on Kyiv has had no appreciable movement in last 24 hours, U.S. official says.

U.S. assesses is that Russia will try to encircle Kyiv in the coming days, a senior U.S. official says. putin has committed nearly 75 percent of his pre-staged combat power into Ukraine, U.S official says.

Russia has committed about 2/3rds of its combat power inside Ukraine, launched over 320 missiles inside Ukraine, U.S. Defense official says. Russian forces still 30 km from Kyiv city center, defense official says.

U.S has observed more than 250 launches of Russian missiles at Ukrainian targets, mostly short range, U.S. defense official says. Putin has committed more than 50 percent of forces around Ukraine to invasion, official says.

U.S. defense official says Russian advance towards Kyiv going slower than Russia anticipated and advance towards Kharkiv still contested. U.S. has indications that amphibious assault underway west of Mariupol, official says.

UK to impose asset freeze against all major Russian banks, immediate asset freeze against VTB- Reuters UK to sanction over 100 individuals, entities and subsidiaries- Reuters

Russian forces arrayed around Ukraine are as ready as they can be, 80 percent in forward positions, ready to go, a senior U.S. defense official says. Senior defense official says Putin has nearly 100 percent of forces the United States believed he would put into position to invade Ukraine.

Russian foreign minister Lavrov tells Putin responses from EU and Nato to Russian security proposals have not been satisfactory- Reuters Lavrov says Russia will try to get responses from all EU countries.

The Biden administration has made a decision to send 3,000 additional troops from the 82 Airborne to Poland in the coming days amid growing concern about Russia's growing military presence near Ukraine, U.S. officials tell Reuters. W/@phildstewart U.S. Defense Secretary Austin ordered the deployment today at the direction of President Biden.

Reuters wire after Biden-Putin call: Kremlin aide says U.S. side showed willingness to tackle core Russian concerns Kremlin aide says talks were open, substantive and addressed concrete issues.

After the chaotic evacuation from Kabul, officials tell Reuters that firings have not been discussed in the administration. But some officials and lawmakers say there is a particular focus on role played by National Security Adviser Sullivan and Secretary of State Blinken. Officials told Reuters the State Department appeared out of touch with the reality on the ground in Afghanistan and had too much confidence in the Afghan government.

The U.S. military has carried out a drone strike against an ISIS-K planner in eastern Afghanistan today, a day after the attack on Kabul airport killed 13 U.S. troops. The strike took place in Nangahar province and initial indications are the "planner" was killed without civilian casualties.

Senior U.S. military official says yesterday’s Kabul attack was only one suicide bombing at Abbey gate and there was no second attack at the nearby hotel. Official says more than 300 American citizens were evacuated in past 24 hours, bringing total number of US citizens evacuated to 5,100.

U.S. official tells Reuters that initial report is that explosion outside Kabul airport was caused by a suicide bombing. US official says there have been casualties.