US security officials expect Kyiv to fall in 96 hours after the first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Newsweek reported:
Three U.S. officials have told Newsweek they expect Ukraine’s capital Kyiv to fall to incoming Russian forces within days, and the country’s resistance to be effectively neutralized soon thereafter.
The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that Moscow’s focus, as revealed in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s references to a “special military operation” to “demilitarize” the neighboring country, would be to encircle Ukrainian forces and force them to surrender or be destroyed. They expect Kyiv to be taken within 96 hours, and then the leadership of Ukraine to follow in about a week’s time.
And Russia’s thunderous attacks on Ukrainian government and military institutions, paired with reports of ground personnel seeking to take strategic points, including the Chernobyl nuclear facility, appeared to only be the initial phase of what may be a more comprehensive ground campaign.
The Daily Mail reported:
Kiev is expected to fall to Russian forces within days and the country’s resistance effectively crippled, US security officials fear, after the first day of conflict left around 100 Ukrainians dead.
Troops are already closing in on the seat of Ukrainian power after taking control of the strategic Chernobyl nuclear power plant today, and will seize it within 96 hours, bringing a ‘new Iron Curtain’ down on Europe, Volodymyr Zelensky warned.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Vladimir Putin plans to encircle Ukrainian forces in Kyiv and force them to either surrender or be destroyed, and the leadership of Ukraine could then fall in a week.
A former senior US intelligence officer told Newsweek: ‘After the air and artillery end and the ground war really starts, I think Kiev falls in just a few days.
‘The military may last slightly longer but this isn’t going to last long.’
After midnight on Thursday evening, Zelensky said his country had been ‘left alone’ to defend itself against Russia and said other world leaders were ‘afraid’ to intervene.
More than 60 Russian battalion tactical groups numbering between 30,000 and 60,000 troops have been sent to Ukraine, according to a Ukrainian Armed Forces statement reported by Sky News.
More than 60 Russian battalion tactical groups numbering between 30,000 and 60,000 troops have been sent to Ukraine, according to a Ukrainian Armed Forces statement reported by Sky News.