A Senior US Defense official has claimed Russia’s assault on Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv has stalled due to logistic issues and low morale.
Speaking to CNN on grounds of anonymity, the official said units were running out of food and fuel, with some “surrendering without a fight”. As a result, the assault is “basically … where it was yesterday,” they claimed.
“There has been in the last six days evidence of a certain risk averse behavior by the Russian military,” they said.
“And they’ve got, a lot of these soldiers are conscripts, never been in combat before, some of whom we believe weren’t even told they were going to be in combat.”
For days, Russian forces have been closing in on Kyiv, with the army expected to launch several strikes against major facilities.
On Tuesday, satellite images showed a 29 kilometers convoy of armored vehicles, tanks, and artillery gathered on the outskirts of the city.
During a video address, President Volodymyr Zelensky said defending the capital would a “key priority” for the government.
“Kyiv is special. If we protect Kyiv, we will protect the state. This is the heart of our country, and it must keep beating,” he said.
“Some vehicles are spaced fairly far apart while in other sections military equipment and units are travelling two or three vehicles abreast on the road,” Maxar said.
‘Suddenly withdrew:’ Marines abandon assault
Russian forces are also reportedly having similar struggles near the port city of Odessa, in the south of Ukraine. An Ukrainian newspaper said marines on board the 810th Brigade of Russia ‘rioted’ against orders to begin their assault onto Luzanovsky beach, with relatives of troops confirming this.
As a result, the ship asked to leave the bay, unharmed.
Ukraine’s former Ambassador to Austria, Olexander Scherba said that Russia was approaching the coast and “about to shell the beach” when they “suddenly withdrew”.
“They approached the coast. Russia was about to shell the beach. Ukraine, Ukrainian was about to shoot back when they suddenly withdrew.
“Reports that marines from Crimea refused to attack Odessa.”
Missiles hit Kyiv
This comes as two missiles were deployed on a TV tower in Ukraine’s capital. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine confirmed at least five people were killed and another five were injured in the blast, which has also knocked out TV channels.
Ukraine’s defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov claimed the move would allow Moscow to spread misinformation and “fake messages that the country’s leadership has given up”.
Taking to Twitter, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the attack, which occurred near a Holocaust memorial was “evil and barbaric”.
“Kyiv TV tower, which has just been hit by a Russian missile, is situated on the territory of Babyn Yar,” he wrote.
“On September 29-30, 1941, Nazis killed over 33 thousand Jews here. 80 years later, Russian Nazis strike this same land to exterminate Ukrainians. Evil and barbaric.”
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