Russian Ops in Ukraine: Mariupol, US Artillery Shipments, & Kiev

Russian operations in Ukraine – Update for April 19, 2022
– US to send 18 howitzers to Ukraine;
– training for artillery & counter battery radar will take weeks for Ukrainians to use it effectively;
– US admits Russia – not Ukraine – is “shaping” the battlefield in Donbas;
– Russian ops for Donbas appear to have begun;
– Russia DID NOT attempt to take Kiev, it fixed troops defending Kiev in place to take other cities;
– Azov fighters in Mariupol continue to fight under genuine belief they can still escape.

References:

*** Pentagon Briefings ***

US Department of Defense – Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby Holds a Press Briefing (April 18, 2022):
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcri…

US Department of Defense – Senior Defense Official Holds a Background Briefing, April 18, 2022:
https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcri…

US Army National Guard – Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operator:
https://www.nationalguard.com/13r-fie…

*** Myth of Russia’s “Attempt to Take Kiev” ***

Strategic Studies Institute & US Army War College Press – The US Army in the Iraq War (2019):
https://publications.armywarcollege.e…

TIME – The Grim Calculations of Retaking Fallujah (Archived, 2004):
https://web.archive.org/web/200411110…

Economist – Hundreds of thousands face catastrophe in Mariupol:
https://www.economist.com/europe/2022…

Guardian – Russia has enough troops ready to take Kyiv, says former Ukraine defence chief (claims 30,000 Russian troops are prepared to take Kiev);
https://www.theguardian.com/world/202…

France 24 – Defending Kyiv: ‘I’m 100 percent sure the Russians won’t get through’ (confirms presence of Ukraine’s 72nd Brigade in Kiev);
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20…

CNN – Kyiv has transformed into a fortress, with its residents determined to defend it (claims 18,000 armed volunteers);
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/08/eu…

Forbes – A Single Ukrainian Tank Brigade Stands Between The Russian Army And Kyiv (claims 1,200 of 1st Tank Brigade was present);
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe…

The Times – Azov Battalion: “We are patriots – we’re fighting the real Nazis of the 21st century” (claims Azov were present in Kiev);
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/az…

*** Azov in Mariupol Calling for “international Intervention” ***

Reuters – Ukrainians defy Russian surrender demand in Mariupol on ‘Easter of war’:
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/…

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