The United States announced today that a new Russian phalanx is advancing towards Kyiv from the northeast of the Ukrainian capital while the first, which came down from the north, remains immobilized for many days outside the city.
“I want to draw your attention to the fact that (the Russians) are starting to try to advance on Kyiv from the northeast,” a senior Defense Ministry official told reporters. “We estimate that they are about 60 kilometers from the city,” he added. However, he was not able to specify how many and what kind of vehicles this phalanx consists of.
According to the same official, the advance of the first, large phalanx from the north to Kyiv has not made much progress for several days, due to the Ukrainian resistance and the problems faced by the Russians in terms of supply and logistical support. This phalanx “failed to pass beyond Hostomel Airport”, which is 20 kilometers from Kyiv, while another “is blocked in Chernihiv”, 150 kilometers from the capital.
The third phalanx descending from the northeast is part of Moscow’s “efforts” to “encircle Kyiv and force it to capitulate,” he continued. “As they did not make the progress we expected, they increased the bombardment of the city with missiles, rockets, artillery shells and air strikes,” he added.
“They are stepping up pressure on Kyiv (…) and we still believe it is one of their main goals,” he insisted.
The American official spoke about information about “street fights” inside Kiev, which, however, are “isolated incidents”. “We consider these to be largely reconnaissance operations, the aim of which is to cause fear and confusion and to try to prepare the ground for the future,” he said.
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