“We anticipate a greater use of artillery when they approach urban centers and when they try to surround them,” the official, who requested anonymity, told reporters.
“It’s typical of a siege: when you want to surround an urban center and subdue it, force it to surrender, artillery becomes a very useful weapon,” he explained.
But “what worries us is that by being more aggressive, they become less precise and less selective” in their artillery strikes, he added.
Some 82% of Russia’s military force deployed for weeks on the country’s borders is now committed to Ukraine, the official said.
However, there has been “no notable movement” by Russian forces towards Kiev or Kharkiv over the past two or three days, he said, noting Kherson (south), which Russian forces claimed Wednesday the ” total control”, remains in fact a “highly contested” city.
Furthermore, Russian soldiers have yet to take control of Ukrainian airspace and continue to face logistical problems, including fuel and food shortages.
“They are behind in their plans,” he continued. But “they still have a huge fighting force at their disposal and they are going to overcome their difficulties.”
The United States continues to provide military assistance to Ukraine, the last delivery of which was made less than 24 hours ago, he noted.
The entrance The Pentagon fears an increase in Ukrainian civilian casualties was first published in diary TODAY.
