Russia hasn’t used full might yet, says Department of Defense official.
QUICK FACTS:
- The U.S. on Tuesday injected a strong note of caution into the persistent reports that Russian military progress has slowed, The Associated Press (AP) reports.
- One senior Defense official said the Russian military still has a significant amount of combat power that has not yet been tapped.
- “They will regroup, they will adjust, they will change their tactics,” the official said, whom AP said has spoken on condition of anonymity.
- The warning comes as Russia warned Kyiv residents to flee their homes on Tuesday and rained rockets on the city of Kharkiv, Reuters notes.
- Russian commanders have intensified their bombardment of Ukrainian urban areas in a shift of tactics after their six-day assault stalled.
- The Russian convoy en route to Kyiv is estimated to be 40 miles long, according to The Guardian.
WHAT ELSE THE OFFICIAL SAID:
- The Defense official said Russians have made progress in the south, moving along two routes out of Crimea, one to the northeast and one to the northwest, according to AP.
- It’s not clear that Russians have taken control of Kherson, although heavy fighting continues.
- The official also said Russian forces have not yet advanced into Mariupol, but are close enough to strike into the city with long-range weapons.
BACKGROUND:
- Overall, the U.S. assesses that Russia has launched more than 400 missiles into Ukraine, of various types and sizes, AP notes.
- Ukrainian and Russian officials have held one round of talks since the six-day-long war began and reportedly are planning more.
- Western intelligence agencies and analysts believe an attempt to close Russia’s military encirclement of Kyiv is imminent, according to The Guardian.
