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Joe Biden PHOTO: Reuters
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The administration of US President Joe Biden has informed President Vladimir Zelensky that Russia is preparing for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine within 48 hours, US intelligence officials told Newsweek.
“The president of Ukraine has been warned that it is very likely that Russia will launch an invasion within 48 hours,” the source told Newsweek.
In addition, aerial surveillance reports show that Russia violated Ukrainian airspace earlier today by flying possible reconnaissance aircraft for a short period of time over its neighbor’s territory, the US official added.
A source close to Zelensky’s government also confirmed to Newsweek that such a warning had been received, but noted that it was the third time in a month that Kiev had been told to prepare for an upcoming large-scale military attack by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“It is certainly possible,” the source said. “Putin can’t keep so many troops in the area for long.”
According to the Pentagon, these are Russian air strikes, cruise missiles and ground invasion, according to a US intelligence official.
The information was also confirmed by a second US intelligence officer, who stressed the comprehensive nature of the military operation that the Pentagon expects from Russia.
He told Newsweek that the invasion would include not only pressure from the pro-Moscow rebel-held Donbass region to the east, where additional Russian troops called “peacekeepers” were sent from Moscow on Monday, but also a major blow to the capital Kiev from Belarus. where Russian troops recently extended joint exercises with their ally.
A second U.S. official said the operation would begin with a cyber attack, followed by a ground invasion that is likely to take place overnight. However, both argue that Russia’s plans may change depending on daily events.
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