SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Nicely joyful Friday to these of you who even have the times of the week in your calendar, and thanks for placing up with me once more. I used to be on right here a pair weeks in the past and I hope what I offered was useful and that I can do the identical in the present day. So, what I am going to do if its OK is I am going to give a pair actually temporary feedback up entrance, after which I am going to take some questions from you. So, that is day 135 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a big scale invasion of Ukraine. We proceed to entry Russians are making gradual and uneven advances by the northern Donetsk, and we have seen that over the previous few days.
Final time I talked to you, the Ukrainians have been preventing arduous at — at Lysychansk, and also you definitely have been monitoring that in nice methods. So I will not belabor that. Within the north close to Kharkiv, we assess that the continued Russian air strikes and indiscriminative fires are actually having no main impact on the bottom. We have not seen a serious shift in something towards Kharkiv, however once more as I mentioned we have seen a number of studies the previous couple of days of strikes of civilian infrastructure.
Within the japanese portion there, we proceed to see in neighborhood of Izyum and Slovyansk the intense effort of the Russians as they orient south out of Izyum in the direction of Slovyansk. And we observe that the Russians proceed to play air strikes and artillery towards a really sturdy Ukrainian protection. After which, we have been watching that particularly as Ukrainians defend north of Slovyansk and we assess that there is further preventing south and east of Bakhmut.
That was, once more, in the event you recall, our earlier dialog, the Russians shifting from Kysychansk now in the direction of the west. That continues however actually — not an excessive amount of preventing in that space, nonetheless artillery however not an excessive amount of motion there from the Russians. Within the south in Kherson, we see the Russian forces continues oblique fires as Ukraine’s continued their protection, and in some circumstances we have seen the Ukrainians making some positive aspects in and round Kherson. That continues. In — in Mykolaiv, we have noticed a number of strikes in the previous couple of days.
And we assess that the Ukrainians are doing fairly nicely down in Kherson. Maritime lanes, no public updates this time, in truth, I feel perhaps the final time I used to be right here, it may need occurred proper after is when Snake Island was deserted by the Russians. And that has not modified. Within the air, nonetheless contested house so Ukrainians proceed to fly. The Russians definitely are persevering with to fly however there’s its — the Russians definitely haven’t claimed any air superiority over Ukraine. After which as you recognize, our coaching continues with companion nations serving to as nicely and plenty of international locations which might be serving to and never simply the provisions of help however within the provisions of these coaching, and joyful to speak about that as we proceed in the present day. So I am going to simply maintain up there. Open it up for questions and once more I am joyful to reply something that I will be of assist with.
STAFF: Thanks sir. All proper. Lita, you are up.
Q: Hello, thanks. Are you able to simply, kind of, step again and provides us a broad image of the Donbas proper now? Is it the U.S. evaluation that certainly Ukraine nonetheless holds, maybe a pair cities and villages? And the way do you see indicators that the Russians are going to — working towards a — a pause to reset and replenish earlier than making a broader, greater offensive in Donetsk? Are you able to simply, kind of, give us that greater image? After which one — one small time, we had requested earlier and I needed to only double test with you. Are you able to give us any numbers on Ukrainian troops skilled thus far on HIMARS? I feel we addressed this this morning. It was a quantity we acquired routinely. I do know there have been some reluctance. I simply needed to see if that had modified or not? Thanks.
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: OK, Lita. Yep, good to listen to from you. Let me begin first. I actually hesitate to say if — in the event that they’re nonetheless villages in Lysychansk, and that they management or do not management. It actually, as you recognize, is true as much as that boundary there after they — after the Russians moved by Lysychansk and proceed to maneuver a bit of bit to the west. Because it pertains to the pause, I might let the Ukrainians and the Russians reply that for you particularly. However I’ve acquired to let you know, as an (inaudible) officer, it is arduous for me to consider that I might — they definitely superior.
I am not going to say the Russians did not advance, however the Ukrainians made them pay for that land fairly arduous. And I’ve acquired to assume that if I took the variety of casualties that the Russians took to realize that portion of floor, I might in all probability need to cease and refit. I haven’t got any data that tells me that, I simply would let you know as (inaudible) officer that I simply, you recognize, I feel I’d in all probability need to cease and refit. After which lastly on the variety of people skilled, its upwards of 100 which were skilled thus far on HIMARS at this level.
STAFF: Thanks. Lets see Barbara.
Q: Thanks for doing this. A few questions, how a lot following up are you able to say or clarify in the event you see anyplace within the east but the place Ukraine, quite than simply holding has been in a position to retake any important, whether or not its in, you recognize, sq. miles or place. Have they been in a position to retake any territory from the Russians? Second query, do you could have any replace on the missiles per day that you just see the Russians firing as a possible indicator that there’s or is just not a pause? Thanks.
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Positive Barbara. Let me hit your final one first there. I haven’t got a quantity. I can see if we have one thing and we’ll have the group present that to you, however I haven’t got a quantity. I’ll let you know, the final time I talked to you, we had seen an uptick over that weekend particularly. I feel it was, you recognize, someplace round 60 missiles over the course of two days that weekend however that was two weeks in the past. We’re not seeing that degree of missiles. I can not let you know if that is as a result of they’re refitting or as a result of, you recognize, they do not have targets, or intelligence. I am unsure what the reason being for that.
After which on the retaking of land, we have now not seen the Ukrainians within the east retake any of that land — however what we have seen them do and, you recognize, I discussed this final time a bit of bit. In a masterful manner, and I actually imply that, in a masterful manner, we have seen them, you recognize, transfer to positions of better defensive functionality. So I feel they, you recognize, and once more in the event you have a look at the Russian numbers, you recognize the Russians are attacking and the benefit in lots of circumstances is within the protection. And I feel they’re placing themselves in positions to take action, so retaking floor, though my guess is that they’re restricted small counterattacks on the bottom at time. We’re not seeing that throughout the japanese entrance there.
STAFF: Thanks Barb. Idrees, Rueters.
Q: Hey, you’d — you’d talked about casualties the Russians had in Lysychansk. Are you able to speak about the place your finest estimate of Russians killed within the battle since February twenty fourth? And secondly, might you give us an concept of the air protection image Russia has within the east? Are they overlaying just about all of the models or are there some gaps within the air protection image there?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Sure. Idrees, to start with on the casualties, I might level you in the direction of the Russians and the Ukrainians on that. I am not going to invest on what these numbers are, after which because it pertains to the air protection image, I, fairly actually I am not monitoring the particulars of the Russian air protection. I, little question, proper, once more simply primarily based on expertise, little question the Russians are offering defenses of their forces and of important capabilities and site, I simply could not let you know how that is lined up or if there are explicit gaps. Sorry about that.
STAFF: Thanks Idrees. David Martin, CBS.
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Nicely you talked about if as an (inaudible) officer, in the event you took the variety of casualties the Russians took in making these positive aspects. You would need to cease and refit. Are you referring to the complete japanese entrance there or are you referring strictly to the push from — a number of Donetsk to Lysychansk and past? Are they — are they nonetheless in a position to say come down from Izyum with out having a pause and refit?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: That is proper. So, to start with, I used to be particularly speaking about Lysychansk simply, you recognize primarily based on the preventing that they’ve carried out over the previous 30 or 45 days on that stretch. What I can not let you know is what the share of Russian models are proper now which might be coming down from the Izyum entry. So, you recognize, we all know that the Russians wish to transfer towards Lysychansk, in truth I used to be studying the New York Occasions earlier in the present day the place they have been speaking about the identical factor. What I can not let you know although is given the share of people who they’ve obtainable to them and people tactical teams, whether or not or not they’re in a position to mount a profitable offensive given these numbers. I additionally know this, the Ukrainians are simply actually defending tenaciously. So, my guess is that that is going into their calculations proper now as they decide the tempo with which they’ll advance or not.
STAFF: Thanks David. Luis Martinez, ABC.
Q: Hello, thanks for doing this briefing. UK intelligence, you recognize, places out a day by day replace and one of many issues that they mentioned in the present day is that it appears that evidently the Russians making massing ready to maneuver in the direction of Sivers’ok, which is on the way in which in the direction of Lysychansk and Kramatorsk. Are you seeing that and what can be the benefit of the Russians and shifting in the direction of there?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Nicely it could be a continuation of their motion from the east to the west and that may make sense that, you recognize if their objectives are to proceed to advance that they might go to Sivers’ok. However I am not seeing any explicit info that tells me that that they’ve their eyes particularly on that location. Undecided if that helps or not Luis.
Q: It does, can I comply with up actual fast. Total as a part of this operational pause, are you seeing that only a whole discount in effort when it comes to artillery strikes or is that persevering with however you are not simply seeing floor actions there within the — on this former.
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Nicely to start with, once more I do not know that there is an operational pause that is ongoing. I’d simply speculate as, you recognize, as a army — anyone’s whose been across the army for awhile. That in the event you’ve taken the, you recognize, in the event you’ve taken the losses you could have — achieve the bottom you probably did, that you just’re in all probability slowing a bit of bit to get issues collectively. Once more I take advantage of the phrase tenacity once more, that the Ukrainians displayed in Lysychansk after which as they labored their manner, you recognize, actually textbook stuff. Working their manner throughout the river there after which into higher defensive positions. All alongside the way in which they have been inflicting important casualties on the Russians.
I could not let you know what that proportion is, however my guess is if you take these organizations from the Russians that have been doing the preventing, that the odds have been excessive sufficient that they’ll need to consolidate and reorganize. And, when it comes to variety of artillery volleys, I haven’t got that info for you.
STAFF: Thanks Lui. Fadi from Al Jazeera.
Q: Thanks for doing this. I simply need to have a query and I simply need to return to the — the hypothesis about why the Russian — the losses that they’ve taken. The Russians are literally saying, the way in which they’re conducting the battle within the Donbas is to many losses to inflict extra losses on the Ukrainians, a grinding kind of battle. So, they’re saying they really reduce losses. So are you able to inform us, like, the variety of Russian forces which might be presently preventing in — in japanese entrance? And if you assess the losses, like what are the numbers that you just — you are speaking about?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: So, to start with, I do not know — I do not need this to sound, I assume it’s going to sound biased nevertheless I let you know. I might be actually involved about believing a lot of what the Russians are telling us. So after they speak to you about, you recognize, their advances, you recognize, I — I can simply — I watch the information too. Proper? And, it simply baffles me that we’d consider what the Russians are telling us about their advances given what they’ve advised us about all the things else. I imply, from the very starting, the Russians have advised us that they are not doing one thing, or they’re doing one thing they usually do the exact opposite of that. So I might watch out with what the Russians are telling you there. After which, good grief, I missed the final a part of your query there. I apologize, do you thoughts repeating it?
Q: Sure — sure. So I — I perceive your skepticism which is — which is, in fact, nicely taken, however I imply you mentioned the losses that they’ve taken. It is — you’d assume that they need to pause, however if you — once we ask you to speak about these losses you could have despatched us to the Russians. I imply, It is referred us to the Russians. So, in the future if — in case you have any indication of what — what are the losses that they’ve taken thus far within the japanese entrance and the — the quantity of troops that they’ve gathered thus far?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Sure, you recognize I might in all probability let you know nearer in BTGs to what we expect is on the market and we’re considering there’s someplace between 10, 15 BTGs which might be out within the portion of operations. What I can not let you know is what the share of these BTGs are. Proper? We all know that they have been making an attempt to fill holes of their BTGs from the very starting of this combat and I simply do not know what these BTGs are equal to.
Q: And my query if I could, primarily based on the development that we have seen within the Luhansk Oblast that’s now beneath Russia’s management. Do you assume that Russia has sufficient forces and capabilities to take the combat past Donetsk and Donbas area exactly? Thanks very a lot.
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: You recognize, I do not need to speculate on the full numbers and the power of the Russians over time to do something in some way. I’d say this, they — in the event you have a look at the — in that house that I used to be describing it a pair weeks in the past, from — from Sivers’ok to the place we expect they’re proper now, I imply, you are taking a look at I feel someplace round 5 miles. Somebody can right my math on that with a — with a Google search I do know, however have a look at the casualties that they took, you recognize, the affect to their group for that small piece of floor. Now have a look at how far more they must endure. I do not know that they’ll do it, however you recognize, once more, I am not going to provide you any — any distances or — or ideas on the place they will find yourself. Sorry Fadi. I did not — I do know I did not make it easier to a lot.
STAFF: All proper. Thanks. Hey Tony Capaccio from Bloomberg.
Q: Sure, thanks. So are you able to sketch out the character of the artillery battle thus far? The narrative is that Russia outguns Ukraine by 100 of cannon tubes despite the fact that the U.S. and NATO growing extra exact HIMARS and MLRS automobiles. I imply, are you able to converse to the entire precision versus non-precision benefit Ukraine might ultimately possess?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Sure, certain can. I imply, and I will not be excellent on this however let me make a “High Gun” reference. Proper? I feel and I am going to miss this. I am a (inaudible) officer, however I feel within the film a pair totally different occasions they speak about it is not in regards to the airplane as a lot as it’s the individual within the field I feel is what they are saying.
Q: Sure.
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Proper. And I feel there’s some similarities right here, so in the event you simply look — now there’s mass. Proper? I am not going to say there is not mass on the Russian facet, however what the Ukrainians are using when it comes to not simply the gear however the techniques, I feel are offering them with some, you recognize, some first rate affect. You recognize, you all have reported and a quantity have reported on, you recognize, the Ukrainians employment of HIMARS. HIMARS are an incredible system. We all know that, and the precision with which they’re able to make use of these is an actual massive deal. They will decide the place they need to put a spherical and put it there, versus capturing a whole bunch of rounds to get after an even bigger goal, which in giant circumstances what the Russians are doing. So I do assume there’s a bonus to precision. Over.
Q: Is the U.S. House Drive supporting this mission by its management of GPS satellites that HIMARS and different munitions on the way in which could also be utilizing?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: You recognize, that is an incredible query and I actually don’t know. I imply I, you recognize, you may assume that is loopy, will not care, this has nothing to do with this. However, you recognize, there’s all types of issues occurring all over the place that is not one of many issues that I am conscious of when it comes to our deployment of property.
Q: OK. And when the Excaliburs recover from there, somebody mentioned a pair — final week that the U.S. remains to be working on the coaching on it for the deployment?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Sure, I feel we’re contemplating the — in truth I feel within the current — within the current announcement on the PDA, I feel it is about to be introduced. I feel (inaudible) talked it about this morning. We’re offering some artillery rounds which have better precision. Once more its like our use of the HIMARS, these have nice precision. I let you know one of many nice issues about these, is and in the event you have a look at the distinction, you recognize, simply and I do not need to drift on you right here however in the event you have a look at the distinction between of what we’re doing and what they’re doing. You recognize in the event you have a look at the affect of civilian casualties, using precision weapons is so essential to defending people who haven’t got something to do with this battle. And definitely their precision is just not almost the identical, you recognize, in the event you have a look at any of the strikes over the previous two weeks by which they’ve hit, you identify the civilian location. So I feel that is very useful too.
STAFF: Thanks Tony. Tom Bowman, NPR.
Q: Are you able to hear me? OK. Thanks. Thanks a lot for doing this. Are you able to give us any extra element of the impact of the HIMARS thus far on the Russian rear space particularly? And likewise one of many issues, what number of comparable methods are both there or on the way in which from different NATO international locations?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Hey Tom. Thanks for the query. To begin with on the results or precision of the HIMARS, I feel all you need to do is have a look at the open supply that is already exhibiting the affect. I imply, I have been watching movies which were posted. We all know that they are going after targets which have main impact on the battlefield. So, you recognize, they’re working after command and management nodes and logistic provide areas, all these issues that though they are not on the entrance line, have a giant time affect on the entrance line time beyond regulation. And, you recognize, in the event you, and you recognize, and once more if you speak in regards to the Russians and their motion, the tempo of their motion is essentially impacted by their potential to command and management or their potential to resupply themselves. And so I feel the Ukrainians have carried out a very nice job with that, they usually’re doing that of their very own accord. It is actually, you recognize, very, very spectacular how they’ve employed the weapon. I missed the second query as a result of I did begin to drift there on you. What was the second a part of the query Tom? I am sorry.
Q: What number of comparable methods to the HIMARS are there or on their manner from different NATO international locations?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Sure. That is a — that is an incredible query that I am going to let the opposite nations reply for you Tom. You recognize that we have now given them eight HIMARS methods and that the current announcement was to offer them with 4 further HIMARS. I will not — I do not speculate on the opposite international locations choices.
Q: Sure, and simply shortly. I requested this earlier. The Economist journal quotes an unnamed army official that is saying the height of western army help ought to arrive to Ukraine by October, permitting for a counter offensive by Ukrainian forces. Does that with what you’ve got been seeing and know?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: To begin with, I want was good sufficient to learn the Economist, simply between you and me nevertheless it — it — I do not know that we’d — we’d agree with that. I imply, it actually does rely on their –a ton of things concerned there, so I do not need to speculate on that both. I can let you know, I used to be not that protection official as a result of like I mentioned, I can not learn the Economist. I find it irresistible — if there’s an Economist individual on the market, do not take it the fallacious manner. I am simply — I simply — I am not up there.
Q: OK. Thanks.
STAFF: We do love NPR although Tom.
STAFF: Jack Detsch, International Coverage.
Q: Thanks. Only one on the HIMARS after which one, kind of the Russians and the place they sit. I do know earlier Senior protection officers had mentioned that the U.S. was testing how the — how the Ukrainians would use them within the subject. Now that it sounds such as you’re glad with that, is — is it potential the tempo of HIMARS being deployed, being despatched can — can enhance? And simply on the Russians, I am curious the place you assess their morale, command and management and simply given the manpower shortages right here, do you assess their bringing extra troops into the sphere? The place are they with that?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: On the — on the primary one, I simply — I need to jot that down. I do not need to neglect the second, however on the primary one, I, you recognize, I do not, once more I am unsure when it comes to numbers of HIMARS we’ll present. We have not acquired that written down someplace, Jack , we’re seeing impact. I imply, and I feel, you recognize what it has been actually attention-grabbing and galvanizing is the extent with which the Ukrainians have taken HIMARS with, you recognize, the coaching they acquired. Proper? So if we — for our artilleryman, we ship them to a faculty to, out at Fort Sill, they undergo a number of months of coaching after which they deploy them. On this case, the Ukrainians have actually come out of contact they usually’ve taken a course and they’re using in a manner that we’d need to accomplish that in our personal fights. In order that they’re definitely using them and it is spectacular
On the morale piece, so I simply got here out (inaudible). You recognize I command the (inaudible), the primary (inaudible) and anytime over the previous two years, each time I adjusted the masks coverage on publish I impacted morale. I can not think about taking casualties on the extent that the Russians have taken them and never having a morale drawback. And so, you recognize, if you learn studies of that and plenty of of you could have written on them, that doesn’t shock me that they might get, you recognize, beat up the way in which they’re for very, very small advances and never have points with their very own morale.
STAFF: Thanks Jack. Time for 2 extra questions. Paul Handley from Agence France Press.
Q: Hello, are you able to hear me?
STAFF: Paul, are you there?
Q: Sure. Are you able to hear me?
STAFF: Sure, there we go.
Q: A pair — couple brief, ones, are you able to inform us with these HIMARS strikes on how a lot they’ve affect the Russians ammunition provides being that they are been some massive depots focused. And a second one, a brief one, then I’ve a comply with up is are — are we unable to get anymore 122, 152 millimeter info for Ukraine’s artillery, legacy artillery?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Actually good questions Paul. So first on the affect and ammunition, I do not know on the entire of the Russian Army how the Ukrainians are impacting Russian ammunition provides. I do know that most of the ammunition places have been destroyed, have had a major affect on the organizations they have been meant to resupply. And so, in that regard, I feel its fairly important however I do not know now its doing with the commercial base and in any other case. It additionally takes a very long time for them to maneuver stuff, so I am going to depart it at that. On the 122 and the 152, these are Soviet methods that you recognize very nicely. We do not provide them. Our companions are working very arduous to attempt to keep munitions for them, so I do know people are working 152 and 122, I simply haven’t got the particulars on how we’re doing with it. Over.
STAFF: OK. And the broader query follows on what some others have talked about. Is that this precision focusing on method clearly is impacting the Russians, however for the broader technique the place does it take us? The place does it — the place is that this going to finish up? Simply stopping the Russians the place they’re they usually maintain this? What’s to comply with?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Nicely these are good questions Paul. That is deep, I imply, actually deep. I, you recognize, hear, what we wish to see is the Russian cease this and — and get out of Ukraine. I imply, that may be an incredible finish, you recognize, I am a realist. I do know the Russians aren’t going to show round tomorrow and drive again throughout the Russian border. However in the long run, the Russians have the power to maneuver to the desk, to speak to the Ukrainians any time and I feel what we’re seeing is the Ukrainians proceed to make the Russians pay for no matter it’s they’re making an attempt to attain right here. Thanks.
STAFF: All proper. The final query goes to go to Jim Garamone from DOD News.
Q: Hello sir. The final couple of weeks there’ve been plenty of tales which have come out speaking about how the assessments of — finish the previous might have been a bit too rosy. Had been they and do you assume that there is been some kind of a correction within the assessments in the present day?
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Nicely Jim, I feel if you are going to describe assessments as rosy, I imply I can recall nearly everybody at first of this factor because the Russians put, you recognize, 100 plus BTGs round Ukraine considering the Russians have been going to maneuver fairly shortly. And that wasn’t rosy and it was fallacious what we have now discovered is that the Ukrainians are possessing a will and spirit that none of us, not none of us, however {that a} good portion of parents simply didn’t have in mind. I’d let you know that the preventing that is been occurring and I need to ensure that this comes throughout very severe as a result of in the event you’re a Ukrainian and you’re, you recognize I mentioned this every week in the past. When you’re giving up any little bit of floor, that is an affect to you and in the event you’re dropping a person or a lady subsequent to you, that has an affect to you. There’s not a rosy strategy to handle that.
I feel although that if you have a look at the entire of it, and also you have a look at what they have been in a position to do to go toe to toe with one of many bigger powers on the earth. This small nation that did not have an infinite Army beforehand, however this one small nation has been in a position to maintain this nation at bay, in lots of circumstances, and quit little or no floor however the floor their giving up is a severe, severe expense. That is one thing else. Proper? And we have seen, and once more, I do not need to over, you recognize, seem overly optimistic right here however historical past is stuffed with examples of small counties like this who show their will and are in a position to maintain their very own. We celebrated one in all them final Monday, and I might prefer to assume the Ukrainians have been demonstrating the identical to the remainder of the world proper now.
STAFF: With that, we’ll wrap this up. Thanks everybody for taking part. Thanks to our Senior army official and also you all have a superb weekend.
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICIAL: Thanks guys. Have a superb weekend.
