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A senior defense official said Tuesday a convoy of Russian vehicles heading south towards eastern Ukraine appears to be moving slowly and will likely be forced to remain on the roads due to the spring weather.
The official told reporters it was unclear how fast the convoy was moving but said it was not heading for the Eastern Front at “breakneck speed”.
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A dog is seen in the middle of a road as Ukrainian army soldiers take part in a military search for possible remains of Russian troops after their withdrawal from villages on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday April 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday that the Russian convoy appears to be an attempt to “intensify their efforts in Donbass” — but he could not confirm what the Russian forces are bringing with them, other than a “mixture of personnel.” and armored vehicles.
The convoy is about 60 km north of the town of Izyum, which is about 26 km from the Donbas regional border.
“I don’t know its ultimate destination,” a senior defense official told reporters Tuesday, noting the convoy was moving south. “But I would rely on the pen to keep them on the paved roads. You stay on highways and avenues. They don’t drive off-road here.”
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Map showing Ukraine, Russia, Crimea, Donbass region held by pro-Russian forces and neighboring countries. Ian Jopson, Fox Digital (Fox News)
Officials have long warned that warmer weather will make it harder for Russia to conduct ground invasions, as heavily armored vehicles will move more slowly in muddy conditions.
The senior US defense official said it does not yet appear that Ukrainian troops have started attacking the convoy, although previous attempts by Russia to push a convoy south to Kyiv earlier in the year proved unsuccessful.
It is estimated that Russia has maintained just over 80 percent of its combat capability since invading Moscow 47 days ago.
But officials have also warned that Russia could seek to recruit up to 60,000 more troops to support its deadly campaign.
The US and NATO said last week that Russia would try to hit eastern Ukraine with a “major offensive” after failing to take the capital Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy warned on Tuesday that his forces still lack what they need to end the Russian invasion and again urged allied nations to send in Kyiv jets and more armored vehicles.
The US has pledged to send Ukraine switchblade drones armed with armor-piercing warheads, but Washington continues to refuse to send real warplanes.
Ukrainian soldiers board a combat vehicle outside of Kyiv, Ukraine, on Saturday, April 2, 2022. As Russian forces withdraw from Ukraine’s capital region, retreating troops are creating a “catastrophic” situation for civilians, leaving mines around houses, leaving behind equipment and “even the bodies of those killed,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on Saturday. AP)
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A senior defense official told reporters that a “significant” quantity of the first 100 Switchblade drones has been shipped to Ukraine and more are expected shortly.
The official said the US is in constant communication with Ukraine to get what it needs in a timely manner.