Pentagon: Russia in defensive position near Ukraine’s Kyiv, not not advancing

KYIV, KOMPAS.com – A senior Pentagon official on Wednesday (23/3/2022) said Russia was on the defensive near Kyiv, not not advancing on the Ukrainian capital.

Russian troops, he said, withdrew more than 30 kilometers east of Kyiv in the last 24 hours by then, and began building defensive positions on several Ukrainian front lines.

“Ukraine managed to push Russia back 55 kilometers to the east and northeast of Kyiv,” said the senior official, who requested anonymity. AFP.

Also read: Summary of the 32nd Day of Russia’s Attack on Ukraine, Counterattack in Kyiv, Attempts to Divide Ukraine in Two, Rocket Hit Lviv

“That’s a change from yesterday,” he continued.

On Tuesday (22/3/2022) the Pentagon estimated that Russian troops were about 20 kilometers from the center of the Ukrainian capital.

Then in the northwest, “They’re basically trying to get in and build a defensive position,” the official added.

“So it’s not that they’re not advancing. They’re not actually trying to advance now.”

Russia’s indiscriminate attacks have devastated several Ukrainian cities since sending tens of thousands of troops to its eastern European neighbor on February 24.

Civilian casualties continued to soar and more than ten million people fled their homes.

Many analysts still see no clear way out of Russia Ukraine war.

Also read: 5 Scenarios of the End of the Russia Vs Ukraine War: Can Fight NATO or Putin Coup?

Even so, the Ukrainian resistance – backed by millions of Western military aid – was unexpectedly fierce.

Russian troops were also held back 10 kilometers from the center of Chernihiv, northeast of Kyiv, according to Pentagon estimates.

They stopped and in some places they gave up. “They’re actually moving in the opposite direction, but not much,” the office said.

While in Kharkiv the fighting is still fierce. Russian forces are still 15-20 kilometers from the city center and face very stiff resistance from Ukraine, according to the official.

Russia appears to be focusing on the pro-Russian separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in the east.

Also read: Russia Investigates Alleged Video of Ukrainian Troops Torturing Prisoners of War

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