Ukraine’s fierce resistance to the invasion may prompt Russia to introduce “more aggressive tactics,” including the use of firebombs, according to Jack Keane, a retired four-star general and former Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. army.
“Russia used incendiary bombs in 2014,” warned Keane during a Monday morning interview on Fox News.
General Keane noted that Russian units in the south are having success because they are veteran forces with “years of experience” training together.
The General also suggested that the troops advancing from the Belarus region are not reporting gains because they are new conscripts and inexperienced. Keane expects Russia to address reverses in the north by sending veteran reinforcements and introducing high-yield incendiary bombs.
Incredibly, Russian President Vladimir Putin has deployed nearly 75% of his combat power into or near Ukraine, a senior U.S. defense official said Monday, according to Fox News.
The official noted that Russia has not made significant gains in moving against Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv, and is still approximately 15 miles away. Also embarrassing to Russia is that it has failed to establish air superiority in the region,
“Certainly they have been slowed and they have been frustrated by their lack of progress on Kyiv,” the official said, noting that this would likely result in a “reevaluation of their tactics and the potential for them to be more aggressive of their targeting of Kyiv.”
Geneal Keane echoed that assessment in his interview on Fox.
According to The Hill, America believes Russia plans to encircle Kyiv and implement “siege tactics.” Other primary Russian targets are the cities of Kharkiv and Mariupol, where “heavy fighting” is taking place.
The U.S. official commended Ukrainian fighters, noting that “the Ukrainians are putting up continued and sustained and stiff resistance in and around Kyiv.” They are determined and “very creative” with their tactics.
“They’re using pretty much everything that they have in their arsenal from small arms all the way up to surface-to-air missiles,” the official said.
President Joe Biden approved a $350 million Ukrainian aid package on Saturday. A follow-up statement from U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken reads:
“Ukraine is a sovereign, democratic, and peace-loving nation. The United States and Ukraine have been partners since Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union more than 30 years ago.”
“This package will include further lethal defensive assistance to help Ukraine address the armored, airborne, and other threats it is now facing. It is another clear signal that the United States stands with the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereign, courageous, and proud nation.”
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