April 19, 2022 (The New Atlas) - The US Department of Defense has released two recent briefings regarding mainly the situation in Ukraine.
Pentagon officials admit that it is Russia - not Ukraine - "shaping" the battlefield in the Donbas region.
The claims it is sending artillery pieces to aid the Ukrainians. But numbering only 18 and requiring weeks of training to use effectively - it doesn't seem as significant as the Western media has attempted to make it sound.
Also discussed in this update is the situation in Mariupol and a plausible explanation as to why Ukrainian fighters refuse to surrender.
Finally - an explanation debunking the myth that Russia attempted to "take" Kiev is provided using modern examples of both the US and Russian military taking cities as a benchmark to compare Russia's combat operations around Kiev with.
References:
*** Pentagon Briefings ***
US Department of Defense - Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby Holds a Press Briefing (April 18, 2022):
US Department of Defense - Senior Defense Official Holds a Background Briefing, April 18, 2022:
US Army National Guard - Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operator:
https://www.nationalguard.com/13r-field-artillery-firefinder-radar-operator
*** 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.edu/pubs/3667.pdf
TIME - The Grim Calculations of Retaking Fallujah (Archived, 2004):
Economist - Hundreds of thousands face catastrophe in Mariupol:
https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/03/21/hundreds-of-thousands-face-catastrophe-in-mariupol
Guardian - Russia has enough troops ready to take Kyiv, says former Ukraine defence chief (claims 30,000 Russian troops are prepared to take Kiev);
France 24 - Defending Kyiv: ‘I’m 100 percent sure the Russians won’t get through’ (confirms presence of Ukraine’s 72nd Brigade in Kiev);
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/europe/kyiv-defense-ukraine-russia-intl-cmd/index.html
Forbes - A Single Ukrainian Tank Brigade Stands Between The Russian Army And Kyiv (claims 1,200 of 1st Tank Brigade was present);
The Times - Azov Battalion: “We are patriots – we’re fighting the real Nazis of the 21st century” (claims Azov were present in Kiev);
*** Azov in Mariupol Calling for “international Intervention” ***
Reuters - Ukrainians defy Russian surrender demand in Mariupol on 'Easter of war':
Washington Post - Russia has killed civilians in Ukraine. Kyiv’s defense tactics add to the danger: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/28/ukraine-kyiv-russia-civilians/
