Russia may begin new offensive soon, U.S. officials say, as Kyiv hit by strike
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Russia could begin the next phase of its military campaign in Ukraine as soon as this weekend or early next week, according to two senior U.S. defense officials, and Ukraine is rapidly running through artillery rounds.
The officials, whose briefing was given under the condition of anonymity, said that the U.S. is working to convince allies to send more artillery and ammunition to Ukraine so it doesn’t run out when the offensive ramps up. A U.S. assessment said this could happen in the coming days, they added.
It followed explosions that rocked the outskirts of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, early Saturday. One person was killed and several people were injured in the strike on the Darnytskyi district, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko told Ukrainian television. NBC News has not been able to verify this claim.
In Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said three people were killed and 34 wounded by missile strikes Saturday. Four members of World Central Kitchen were injured in one of the attacks, the organization said.
Elsewhere, Maksym Kosytskiy, the governor of the Lviv region, said in an online statement that an air raid had been launched on the city. There were no reported casualties.
The attacks came after Russia’s defense ministry vowed to increase missile strikes after the Moskva, its flagship in the Black Sea, sunk Thursday.
The Russian military could begin moving some of its forces back into Ukraine as soon as this weekend or early next week, according to two senior U.S. defense officials.
One person was killed by a Russian strike on the Darnytskyi district on the outskirts of Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko told Ukrainian television.
Attack came after Russia’s Defense Ministry promised to step up missile attacks on Kyiv in response to Ukraine’s reputed assaults on Russian territory.
