A senior U.S. defense official warned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is just getting started.
“What we are seeing is initial phases of a large scale invasion,” the official said, as Voice of America News’s Jeff Seldin reported.
The official added, “They’re making a move on [Kyiv].”
According to the official, Russia’s invasion is “clearly designed to take key population centers.”
Russia also has “every intention of decapitating the [Ukraine] government,” the official reported.
BREAKING: #Russia op "clearly designed to take key population centers" per senior US defense official
— Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) February 24, 2022
"They have every intention of decapitating the [#Ukraine] government"
Additionally, the official said Russia’s initial attack involved more than 100 “mostly short range ballistic missiles, but also medium range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles.”
Seldin tweeted, “Russia targeting mostly [Ukraine] military sites – barracks, warehouses, airfields, per senior US defense official. No assessment yet of damages or casualties.”
#Russia targeting mostly #Ukraine military sites – barracks, warehouses, airfields, per senior US defense official
— Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) February 24, 2022
No assessment yet of damages or casualties
Several countries have condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. President Joe Biden issued a statement responding to the attack, calling it “unprovoked and unjustified.”
He explained, “Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.”
The president is expected to announce “further consequences” for Russia Thursday, as NBC News reported.
While most have condemned Russia’s attack, former President Donald Trump suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin is “smart” for his decision, as IJR reported.
During an event at Mar-a-Lago on Wednesday, Trump said, “He’s taking over a country for $2 worth of sanctions. I’d say that’s pretty smart.”
He continued, “He’s taking over a country, literally a vast, vast location. A great piece of land with a lot of people and just walking right in. This would have never happened, ever in a million years, it would have never happened.”