Russia Makes Slow & Steady Progress in Donbas: Update on Russian Military Ops in Ukraine

Update on Russian military operations in Ukraine

– Pentagon assesses that Russia is making “slow and uneven” progress in Donbas, but progress nonetheless;

– US claims Russia has “failed” to disrupt Ukrainian efforts to replenish and reinforce its front lines;

– However, this means that Ukraine is throwing its full strength plus everything the West has given it at Russia and still can’t stop Russian forces advancing;

– Pentagon claims US howitzers have already reached the front lines in Donbas;

– Russian forces are likely conducting fixing operations near Kharkov, not attempting to “take” the city;

– US Javelin missiles do not have a great enough range to be useful in the type of fighting taking place in Donbas;

– the Ukrainian army built up by the US-NATO over the past 8 years is being destroyed and cannot be replaced faster than Russia is taking it off the battlefield;

-Turkey is playing a difficult balancing act between the US-NATO and Russia-Eurasia;

References:

US Department of Defense– Senior Defense Official Holds a Background Briefing MAY 4, 2022:
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcri…

CNN – Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s supply lines are intensifying. Ukraine’s national railway hasn’t buckled:
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/04/eu…

Reuters – Timeline: The Battle for Aleppo:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mi…

Forbes – Russian Tanks Massing Near Ukraine Sport Mods Against Drones, Javelin Missiles:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/sebastie…

UN – Note to Correspondents: Statement attributable to the Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Osnat Lubrani:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/n…

Washington Post – Russia has killed civilians in Ukraine. Kyiv’s defense tactics add to the danger:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/…

US Department of Defense – Defense Officials Hold Media Brief on the Training of Ukrainian Military May 4, 2022:
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcri…

US DoD – DOD Leaders Say Training Ukrainian Forces Is Paying Dividends May 4, 2022:
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Sto…

Defense News – Congress signals openness to Turkey F-16 sale amid Ukraine cooperation:
https://www.defensenews.com/congress/…

Harvard University’s Atlas of Economic Complexity – Turkey 2019:
https://atlas.cid.harvard.edu/explore…