More than 1370 Missile Launches Since Start of Russian Invasion - Pentagon

"Most" Russian missile strikes against Ukraine coming from inside Russian or Belarusian airspace, a senior defense official said on Monday, citing the potency of Ukraine's air defenses.

Russian aircraft that do enter Ukrainian airspace don't loiter for long, the official said speaking on background, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"It's remarkable what the Ukrainians have been able to do with the air defense systems that they have available to them, and that's why we're going to try to replenish them as best we can" - the official added.

The Pentagon has observed more than 1,370 missile launches since the start of the Russian invasion.

On the battlefield, lots of things remain static. Forces outside Kyiv, Chernihiv and Kharkiv remain stalled outside those cities.

Still assess around Kyiv that Russian forces have "not only ceased to make any advances toward the city, but are making really no efforts on the ground to advance on the city."

"But obviously, they continue to strike the city with long-range fires. No change in their positions both to the north and northwest," the official said. "They're still 15 to 20 kilometers away, and to the east/northeast, still 55 kilometers away. Again, a static situation on the ground there except for the fact that we continue to see the Ukrainians, you know, defend the city and try to push the Russians back, as well."

No real changes in Chernihiv and Kharkiv either. Russian movements on Chernihiv are stalled between 8 to 10 kilometers away from the city. Ukrainian troops are continuing offensives to take back terrain.

Situation in Mariupol remains dire. Frequent shelling, long-range strikes, etc., by Russian. The city is “nearly surrounded,” the official says.

"And we are certainly aware of reports that inside Mariupol the Ukrainians are not only fighting very, very hard, but that they are experiencing their own challenges because the city is nearly surrounded. We can't independently verify every assertion, but we do understand that it is nearly encircled. It is under incredible pressure by the Russians, but the Ukrainians continue to defend it," the official added.

Russia also is continuing to press its efforts to take greater control in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. "Incremental" Russian gains have been made out of the Izyum area, the official said.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.