Pentagon: Russia is 'several days' behind its schedule

The Pentagon assesses that Russia is “several days” behind schedule in achieving its objectives in Donbas, hobbled by logistical issues and Ukrainian resistance, a senior defense official said on Friday, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

Russian ground forces are making "plodding, uneven progress” in the southeastern region, the official said. The Kremlin has recalibrated its halting war effort and is focusing on a new strategic offense in Ukraine’s south and east.

Moscow aims to attack Ukrainian forces in the Donbas from the north, east and south as it moves troops from Mariupol, the official said, adding that Russian forces are falling behind on all fronts.

“They meant to be much further along in the total encirclement,” the official, who asked for anonymity in order to candidly discuss operations, said. Now they are “nowhere close to linking north with south.”

While it is difficult to predict the outcome of the conflict, for now the Ukrainians continue to resist effectively in Donbas, the official added.

The Pentagon’s assessment comes a day after the White House unveiled a massive new $33 billion funding request to bolster Ukraine’s military in the ongoing fight.

The defense official also noted that shipments of U.S.-made M777 155 mm howitzers continue to arrive in Ukraine.

About 60% of the 90 howitzers planned for delivery are now in Ukraine, the official said, along with 155 mm rounds.

"We do believe that these howitzers will be … very, very effective in helping in the Donbas fight, which we've already seen, is deeply reliant on long-range fires, specifically artillery by both sides," the official said.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.