[/QUOTE]
Step by step, the US agencies are recording through intelligence and satellite images the movements of Russian troops and in particular its advance towards the Ukrainian capital Kiev.
According to U.S. intelligence, Russian forces have advanced another five kilometers into the center of Kiev over the past 24 hours, moving steadily toward their goal of seizing the Ukrainian capital and toppling the Zelensky government.
The Americans estimate that Russian progress on the battlefield "remains slow", but five kilometres is not a negligible distance, considering the resistance they have encountered from the Ukrainian army. "Russian forces are now within 25 kilometers of Kiev," a senior U.S. Defense Department official told reporters crippling the report."
"The goal of the Russians is to continue operations and surround Kiev. They intend to do this in the next few days," he said, adding: "The capture of Kharkiv remains a subject of debate, as opinions are divided, but Russian forces are continuing their march to the east of Ukraine, towards Mariupol. But they have not captured either city."
"The belief is that if they manage to capture Kharkiv and Mariupol, then they will be able to draw a line between the two cities, which will allow them to take the eastern part of the country," he said.
Asked if there was any information about the nuclear weapons that Vladimir Putin put on alert, he replied that "there is nothing from the Defense Ministry." "However, we are monitoring and watching closely as much as we can," he added."
[BR]
Russian forces will become more aggressive in Kiev
Americans believe that in the immediate future Putin will order more intensive and more aggressive operations in Kiev, in order to shorten the time it takes for Russian forces to enter the Ukrainian capital. There are already reports of a large number of explosions on the outskirts of the big city, immediately after the withdrawal of the negotiating missions that met on the border with Belarus.
"Ukrainian forces are still resisting on the outskirts of Kiev and we don't see them giving up," a US official said."
"No Belarusian soldiers seen, say US observers"
A US Department of Defense official confirmed that no Belarusian soldiers have been spotted on the battlefields in Ukraine, nor have they discerned any movement of the Belarusian army towards the border.
In an estimate by the Americans, they estimate that Ukraine has been invaded by 75% of the forces that Putin had gathered on the border.
According to information from US and Ukrainian intelligence agencies, Belarusian forces are preparing to reinforce Russian forces, if this is deemed necessary by the outcome of the multiple battlefields.
Russia: we have struck 1,146 military facilities in Ukraine
The account of military operations in Ukraine to date was released by the Russian Defense Ministry. According to the data presented by Moscow, 1,146 military facilities in Ukraine have been hit as part of demilitarization, which is one of Moscow's main objectives.
Among the targets hit are 31 command and communication centers, 81 S-300, Osa and Buk M-1 anti-aircraft systems, as well as 75 radar stations and six convoys of Ukrainian vehicles carrying weapons.
As for offensive mobile units, Russia announced that it has neutralized 311 tanks and other battle tanks, 42 aircraft and helicopters, 51 multi-missile units, 147 ground-based weapon systems and 263 special forces vehicles.
The Russian Defense Ministry's statement also mentioned 110 Ukrainian soldiers who defected and surrendered to Russian forces.
Source.gr
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source[/P]
