SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Okay, good morning, everyone. Thanks for hanging in with me and pleased Friday to you all.
We’ll — we’ll undergo some operational stuff first — not a complete lot of modifications — after which I am going to — I am going to shift from that to — to the safety help and — and the coaching piece. Once more, not a complete lot of updates from yesterday, after which we’ll get to your questions.
So right here we’re on day 64. We have noticed greater than 1,950, now, missile launches. I’d inform you that the — the — the preponderance of strikes nonetheless are within the JFO and Mariupol, and I’d add that in Mariupol, what we’re seeing, a predominance of the ordinance being dropped is dumb ordinance, not precision-guided, and — and we expect that that speaks to challenges that the Russians are having with PGM replenishment.
We have now additionally noticed, as you guys have all seen, , some growing strike actions in central Ukraine, together with Kyiv, as — in addition to Western Ukraine, together with Odesa and the Odesa space. Once more, I — I wish to watch out right here. We — we do not have good visibility into Russian focusing on and — and the Russian mindset as to every thing they’re doing. However on the whole, what we expect they’re attempting to do is get on the capacity of the Ukrainians to — to replenish their very own shops and to strengthen themselves.
So as an example, we’re seeing at — at the very least tried assaults on — on electrical energy amenities, maybe as a result of the Russians consider if they’ll knock out some electrical energy, they’ll have an effect on the flexibility of trains, as an example, to maneuver. So it — it is — it is not an ideal image. As an example, in Kyiv, a few of the strikes in Kyiv we consider have been meant for — for army manufacturing capabilities. Now, I do know that there is reviews that they hit residential areas. We have now no cause to doubt that they did, however we do not consider at one hundred pc sure that they meant to hit residential areas. In different phrases, they might have been misses.
The — the strikes round Odesa are slightly bit harder to discern precisely what they’re doing there. We nonetheless do not see any — any amphibious transfer on Odesa, or any floor transfer on Odesa. Once more, it might be of a bit — might be of a bit of their efforts to attempt to pin down Ukrainian forces within the space between Odesa and Mykolaiv in order that they cannot come to the help of their colleagues additional within the east within the Donbas space. We — we’re not one hundred pc positive. I do not wish to personal their thought course of; I am simply attempting to offer you what we — what we form of suppose.
Now, within the Donbas space, once more, nonetheless preventing over in — in numerous totally different places. We consider that primarily what they’re doing is — is constant to set circumstances for a sustained and bigger and longer offensive; that I’m not suggesting that offensive hasn’t begun. In fact, they’ve begun. There’s preventing there. However we nonetheless suppose that it’s of a bit of their attempting to set the correct circumstances for — for sustained offensive operations.
They’ve made some — the Russians now have made some incremental, uneven and sluggish advances to the southeast and southwest of Izyum. They look like advancing towards in the direction of Sloviansk and a spot referred to as Barvinkoe. They proceed to make use of — and that is, once more, we have talked about this earlier than, given what we anticipated them to do within the Donbas and — and the significance of long-range fires, however what we see them doing is utilizing artillery and a few airstrikes upfront of their floor actions. And so their floor actions are pretty plodding as a result of A, the artillery and airstrikes that they’re launching towards Ukrainian positions usually are not having the impact that they need them to have. The Ukrainians are nonetheless in a position to withstand a quantity — and — and B, they’re nonetheless slightly cautious of getting out forward of their provide strains. They do not wish to make the identical errors that they’ve made in Kyiv, and so we expect they’re — they’re making this form of plodding, uneven progress, however it is rather doctrinal in its strategy: launch airstrikes, artillery strikes upfront of — of floor actions, after which solely — solely then, whenever you suppose you have softened up the Ukrainian strains do you begin to transfer your floor items. However they’re operating straight into stiff Ukrainian resistance. In order that’s why we expect this progress has been sluggish and uneven nonetheless during the last 24 hours.
We additionally assess that due to this sluggish and uneven progress, once more, with out good data of each facet of the Russian plan, we do consider and assess that they’re delayed in what they have been attempting to perform within the Donbas. We nonetheless consider that — that they wish to — that — that they wish to press the Ukrainians from three — from three instructions: from the east, the place they have already got Russian forces within the — the — the jap a part of the Donbas area and have had for eight years; from the north, we simply talked about that popping out of Izyum; after which from the south popping out of Mariupol. I don’t have as we speak a — various what number of troops have left Mariupol and are shifting north. I — I do know I’ll get requested that query. I am attempting to get forward of you right here. I haven’t got that quantity, however we nonetheless assess that they’re shifting forces, attempting to maneuver north out of Mariupol and in order that they’ll strategy the Ukrainian Armed Forces from that southerly path. However once more, we might assess that their progress in doing so has been sluggish and uneven, and positively not decisive in any — in any occasion.
Right this moment, we consider that they — they nonetheless have 92 operational BTGs in Ukraine, however that does not imply, as I mentioned yesterday, that these are all — BTGs are full-up rounds. Sure, they’re operational. They’re able to — of conducting fight operations, however as I mentioned yesterday, we consider they’ve suffered attrition. They’ve suffered losses. Not all these BTGs are — are at one hundred pc functionality, and we additionally assess that a part of this isn’t — is — is clearly, the — the preventing that is occurring, but in addition as a result of, , they — they have been pretty rushed in reinforcing a few of these items into the east. You already know, we — we talked a few weeks in the past about how they’re shifting troops out of Kyiv and Chernihiv and — they usually have been to maneuver them to the east to Velykyi and to Belgorod and refit them and resupply them. And that occurred, nevertheless it occurred at a reasonably clipped — a fairly-fast clip, and — and so we do not assess that each BTG that was put again in was put again in even at full energy. So simply one thing to — to notice.
They, once more, they’re attempting to beat, , a few of these challenges they’d. We have mentioned that earlier than, however it’s completely not clear that they’ve solved all their issues, and so we might not assess that — that they — that they — that they’ve every thing in place that they must be fully-successful. That is it. In fact, they’ve a numeric benefit and they’re concentrating extra power in a smaller geographic space, so now we have to take that under consideration. And once more, the Ukrainians are placing up a robust resistance all through the — all through the realm.
There’s completely nothing to replace within the maritime surroundings. I am not even going to undergo all the main points with you, trigger there’s actually nothing modified from yesterday. So I am not going to waste your time with that.
And on safety help, nonetheless a — nonetheless slightly bit greater than 60 p.c now of the howitzers have transferred to — into Ukrainian army arms. That is not a change from yesterday, it is about 60 p.c, however there’s been no numeric modifications from yesterday.
Let’s examine. Bought about — , the — the — the 155 artillery rounds proceed to — to stream into Ukraine, even during the last 24 hours, and an increasing number of are stepping into the area for additional cargo into Ukraine, however that — that — they’re arriving in there.
Within the subsequent 24 hours, greater than a dozen flights are anticipated from the continental United States and — and that can embrace howitzers, extra 155 rounds, a few of these Phoenix Ghost UAVs, and — and even a few of the radars that we talked about. So the — that is on PDA-8, and like I mentioned, greater than a dozen flights anticipated within the subsequent 24 hours.
In — let’s have a look at — see if I can discover anything fascinating in right here. I’d say within the final 24 hour, there have been virtually 20 deliveries through airlift from seven totally different nations which were obtained within the area at a number of places, with — with every thing from mines to — to small caliber rounds and rockets, 122 millimeter rockets, helmets, physique armor, 155 — I am sorry, that is from america — however so a number of issues coming in from different nations as properly.
On the coaching aspect, we have that second class of greater than 50 Ukrainian army. They’re — they’re now, I believe, in day three of their coaching exterior Ukraine. There’s further howitzer coaching for extra further Ukrainians, virtually 100 extra getting howitzer coaching at — at a unique location exterior Ukraine.
The — there are about 15 Ukrainians that are actually in day two of a week-long course on the Q-64, and about 60 of them are — commenced coaching yesterday. As I mentioned on the M113, that — that’ll be damaged up, that’s a the 5 day factor. You have acquired about three days which can be devoted to sustaining that — that piece of drugs and two days devoted to studying easy methods to drive it. In order that’s a couple of 5 day factor and it started yesterday.
And I believe I am going to cease there and we’ll take questions. Let’s examine. Lita, you are on.
Q: Hello, thanks. One fast query on the American who was apparently killed in Ukraine, Joseph Cancel Willy (sic) — or Willy Joseph. Do you may have something extra on him or — and I do know you had little or no visibility into Individuals that will have gone over there to battle however is — is there something you’re gleaning on — on that?
After which only a broader query on the coaching, is the U.S. serving to to facilitate the motion of the Ukrainian troopers to coaching? And simply give us a — form of a — a greater image of — I do know you do not wish to say the place it is taking place however form of how that is being form of constructed?
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Yeah, so on the — on the — on the person killed, Lita, we haven’t any data on — on him, we — we — we simply do not. We have now — now we have no approach of monitoring particular person Individuals that determine to — to go battle in Ukraine.
I — let me simply say what I — , our — our — our ideas and — and — and prayers exit to his household. We perceive from press reporting that — , that he — that he was married and — and had a — a — a younger little one, and that is — that is simply horrible — horrible information for any household to get. And — and the — and the Division of Protection sends its deepest condolences to all his household and — and family members.
We — we proceed to induce Individuals to not go to Ukraine. It’s an energetic battle zone. This isn’t the place and it is not the time for Individuals to journey to Ukraine, regardless of how altruistic they might be. Now, what we might encourage Individuals to do is contribute to any variety of non-governmental and non-profit organizations which can be attempting to contribute to humanitarian help there — Purple Cross is a good instance. If you wish to assist Ukraine as a personal citizen, that is one of the simplest ways to try this.
In your different query, with out stepping into too many particular particulars — and I am not going to if pressed — I am simply not going to go there, guys — however sure, now we have, in — in lots of instances, helped with the transportation of Ukrainian troopers to coaching websites, not serving to them get out of Ukraine.
So I don’t wish to depart you with the impression that we’re going into Ukraine and we’re flying — we’re transporting Ukrainian troopers in a foreign country. That isn’t taking place. However as soon as they’re in a foreign country, previously, in sure circumstances, now we have helped get them to their coaching places and we’ll help in — in getting them from these coaching places again to a place the place they’ll reenter Ukraine.
We’re not — not transporting troopers from inside Ukraine out of Ukraine. We — because the President mentioned, there’s not going to be any U.S. forces preventing in Ukraine, and so we’re not — we’re not taking part in that, however we’re serving to with their — with — with a few of the transportation to get them to — to coaching places.
However once more, let me simply stress, that transportation begins and ends exterior of Ukraine. Does that reply your query?
Q: Sure, on that. Do you may have any form of ballpark purpose about what number of Ukrainian troopers who’re wanting ahead to attempting to coach, both the U.S. or the U.S. together with allies — I imply, what — are you able to give us form of a way of the scope going ahead?
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: We’re not being pushed by a numeric — numeric purpose of — of — of numbers of — of trainers. This is not like a — it is not like boot camp, the place you — you have acquired form of quotas it’s important to meet each quarter or yearly. We’re working with the Ukrainians and — and — and having a collaborative dialogue with them about what number of trainers they need skilled on a given system.
So for the radars, you simply do not want that many, and so it is a — it is — it is about 15 on this first tranche. And we’ll see what the following tranches must be. For the — for the primary two tranches of artillerymen being skilled, it was roughly — it was slightly bit greater than 50. It wasn’t precisely the identical quantity for — for the second, as properly — because it was for the primary, nevertheless it was round 50. And that was a choice made in live performance with the Ukrainians. I imply, clearly it is their alternative what number of they ship. Nevertheless it — it truly is pushed by what number of the Ukrainians need skilled on a given system and the way they anticipate to make use of these trainers once they — once they return into Ukraine.
The place are they going to go?
What items are they going to coach?
What number of coaching classes are they going to conduct, for the way lengthy?
All that is being determined by the Ukrainians.
So we’re not pushed by a numeric purpose. We’re pushed by assembly a functionality. And that is all been absolutely consulted and baked with the Ukrainians.
Now, look, it’ll go on for so long as it must go on. I imply, Secretary Austin was very clear, actually once we have been in Europe simply this week, that we’ll assist get them the capabilities they want. And a part of serving to with that’s ensuring they know easy methods to use a few of the capabilities they don’t seem to be accustomed to. And we’ll simply hold — we’ll hold doing that for so long as we have to.
Sylvie?
Q: Sorry. Sorry. I am right here. You mentioned that the weapons are simply beginning arriving. So that you — do you see any impact of the — the — of the brand new weapons on the bottom already?
Do you see any impact of, , the heavier weapons that you’ve been sending?
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Yeah, Sylvie, so I am unable to level to particular battles by which our howitzers have been used but. They — they’re simply arriving within the nation. They’re being married up now with the trainers. The Ukrainians would have a significantly better sense of — of how their coaching goes in there and the diploma to which these howitzers have been used.
I — I hasten to remind everyone that, as soon as we switch these programs into Ukraine, they’re Ukrainian property. And the Ukrainians decide the place they’re, how they’re used and — and to what have an effect on, not america. And we do not have — , we do not have a capability to know the place each single system is, on any given day, and the diploma to which it is being efficient. So I’d refer you to the Ukrainian armed forces to talk to particularly the howitzers. All I can inform you is that — that — that, , 60 p.c of — of the 90 that we dedicated to are within the — are within the nation. And — and I am unable to — I truthfully simply cannot go additional than that.
And we do consider that — I’ll say this, we do consider that these howitzers shall be, when utilized, might be very, very efficient in serving to them within the Donbas battle, which we have already seen is deeply reliant on long-range fires, particularly artillery, by each side. So we — we firmly consider that these howitzers, as soon as put within the battle, shall be efficient within the battle.
David Martin?
Okay, nothing heard. Tony Capaccio?
Q: Hello, there. What — when will the DOD element the $16 billion portion of the supplemental?
How and when will it’s made public, sir?
Is the comptroller going to be sending a letter to the protection committees, or how is it going to work out?
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: I — I haven’t got an replace for you on what communication the comptroller’s going to have with Congress on this, Tony.
I imply, clearly we have to get it authorised so we will begin to fill it out. I think that we are going to already be doing a little — some pen-to-paper work on what we might need within the — in each the — in each the $6 billion for USAI and what we might wish to buy, in addition to the $5 billion for — for PDA and what would come into that.
I — I do know that there are planners which can be beginning to put pen to paper on what that — what particular programs — however we do not wish to get too far forward, both, as a result of we do not know when Congress will approve it and even, fairly frankly, if they’re going to approve it. And we wish to guarantee that, as we fill these out, we’re doing it in live performance with the Ukrainians they usually want within the second, or what — or for the longer term second.
And so our focus proper now could be on finishing PDA-8 and — and having continued conversations with them about their — their wants going ahead.
So I am afraid I simply haven’t got a selected replace for you, however I can guarantee you that we’re already starting to consider what — what sorts of programs might be in there.
However, once more, we can’t make these choices unilaterally. We’ll make them in live performance, full live performance with the Ukrainians.
Q: Okay, lots of — lot of consideration on the howitzers. At this level, are you able to say, although, that they have not truly began firing on Russian forces and that the artillery duel, so to talk, is but to come back?
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Tony, as I mentioned to Sylvie, we — we merely do not know. We simply do not know. And I am unable to inform you that we — that we are going to know, until in reality the Ukrainians inform us, “Hey, we used your howitzer in — in a sure location, at a sure time, with a sure impact.”
However we — we could not have that form of granularity, Tony.
Q: Positive, and one different factor. What is the standing of the supply of the 700 Switchblades and the 121 Ghost — Phoenix Ghost drones which were dedicated to the Ukraine?
And have — have Ukrainian troopers truly been skilled on the Ghost Phoenix at this level — Phoenix Ghost?
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Yeah, I believe that, so far as I do know, there hasn’t been — there hasn’t been coaching on the — on the Phoenix Ghost but. We — once more, we consider {that a} first tranche of these drones needs to be arriving within the area as we speak, however not all 121, however a primary tranche of them shall be arriving in — within the area as we speak.
And, once more, we’re nonetheless figuring out how the precise coaching goes to be completed on this. We do not consider that the coaching will —
(CROSSTALK)
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Tony, simply let me end for a second. We do not consider that the coaching will take very lengthy for — for pilots which have some current UAS data. It should not take very lengthy.
Q: And the Switchblades, the 700 which were dedicated? What is the standing of these, roughly?
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: I haven’t got an replace for you on that.
Q: Okay, thanks.
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Properly, truly, let me simply —
Q: Yeah, for those who — undergo your cheat sheet there.
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Thanks for giving me that permission.
So complete, proper now, we’re nonetheless at 100 of the Switchblades.
Q: Okay, thanks.
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Yeah. Okay, Phil Stewart?
Q: Hey. There was a German journal report saying that U.S. particular forces have been inside Ukraine coaching Ukrainians on city warfare strategies. Simply double-checking, are there any — has there been any change to the disposition, the concept that U.S. forces are allowed or not allowed to enter Ukraine to do coaching?
Thanks.
(AUDIO GAP)
Q: We will not hear something, by the best way.
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Are you able to guys hear me now?
Q: Now we will.
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Good day?
(CROSSTALK)
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: — what the hell occurred there. Phil, did you get my reply?
Q: No, no, no, no. I believed perhaps the query was, like, , a — a shocker and the programs went down.
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: No, it wasn’t a shocker. I suppose the system screwed up. What I used to be saying is there aren’t any U.S. forces coaching in Ukraine.
Q: Thanks a lot.
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Okay. Eric Schmitt?
Q: Two questions. You mentioned in your introductory feedback that the Russians are delayed in what they’re attempting to attain within the Donbas. How far delayed are they, in your estimate? And what had the Pentagon — what have they thought they might have been capable of obtain by this level? Then I’ve acquired a — another query.
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: I would say, simply on the whole, we would assess, trigger it is totally different on each line of — of strategy, Eric, however I believe you are — be high-quality for those who mentioned that we consider they’re at the very least a number of days behind the place they wished to be. However once more, it varies on the road, whether or not it is from the north or the south.
And we — we consider that they — they — they meant to be a lot additional alongside, when it comes to a complete encirclement of Ukrainian troops within the east, they usually haven’t been capable of hyperlink north with south. In actual fact, they’re nowhere near linking north with south because the Ukrainians proceed to battle again.
Q: And the second query is there was a press release out of NATO I believe in a single day or early this morning about over the previous 4 days, NATO plane have gone as much as intercept Russian warplanes in each the Baltic and Black Seas. No contact made however simply wished to get your sense of what this implies at the moment, during the last 4 days, of the importance of those — of those intercepts? Thanks.
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Yeah, I — I — I checked on this myself. I — I’ve discovered that NATO has supplied an extra assertion, making it clear that — that each one these — these interchanges have been secure {and professional}. There was no menace by Russian plane to — to NATO airspace or NATO territory, that these have been extra regular intercepts. And once more, , the NATO air policing effort is lengthy longstanding, years lengthy, and there is routine interchanges with — with Russian plane on account of that air policing mission.
And the indications that I’ve gotten this morning is that — that these — these exchanges within the final 24 hours have been additionally form of akin to that secure {and professional}, didn’t pose a menace.
Felicia Schwartz?
Q: Thanks. Are you able to replace us on Russia’s nuclear posture amid renewed threats from Putin this week? What is the newest U.S. evaluation on whether or not Russia would use tactical nuclear weapons?
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: We proceed to observe their nuclear capabilities each day the perfect we will and we don’t assess that there’s a menace of using nuclear weapons and no menace to NATO territory. And the very last thing I’ll say is that as he does each day, the — the Secretary assesses our personal strategic deterrent posture and he has seen no cause to alter that strategic deterrent posture.
Lara Seligman?
Q: Hey. Thanks for doing this. I simply wished to ask you an enormous image query. Simply given what you have been saying concerning the logistical points that Russia has been having with logistics and PGMs, how does the Pentagon assess broadly that the — the battle within the Donbas goes for Ukraine? Do you assess that they are going to proceed to have the ability to maintain towards Russia? And might you give us any particulars of — for the way lengthy you suppose this may final?
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: It’s extremely tough, Lara, to — to foretell with certainty the way forward for battle. I — I — I believe any — anyone right here would — would — can be humble about that. And it’s totally arduous to make particular predictions a couple of battle we’re not preventing.
I’d simply inform you that the Ukrainians proceed to withstand successfully within the Donbas. We — , one of many the explanation why we expect they’re — the Russians are delayed is due to the Ukrainian resistance. And we’re doing every thing we will, in addition to, , 40 different nations, to assist the Ukrainians proceed that — that — that protection.
Now, look, we have additionally been sincere about now that the preventing has shifted to the Donbas, an space which is extra confined geographically, the place they’ve shorter strains of communication — the Russians — that they’ve actually superior numbers and that — that they’ll now — they’re attempting to be taught from a few of their earlier errors, that the preventing there may change into extended. And I do know everyone desires to get, — what does that imply? I — I — we won’t inform you, we do not know. Weeks, months, we’re — we’re unsure.
However we — we actually consider that the circumstances are — are — might be set for a for much longer slog right here in — contained in the Donbas, given each side’ familiarity with the practice, the lengthy vary fires that each side are making use of, the — the — the artillery motion to mechanize — the — the — the propensity to have the ability to use mechanized maneuvers right here on this half — a part of Ukraine.
I imply, it may go on for a while. We have described it as a possible knife battle and I believe it is starting to form as much as be precisely that.
Dan Lamothe?
Q: Good morning. Thanks. Acknowledging you do not know the place the Howitzers are as soon as transferred, are you able to converse extra broadly to what the counter-battery battle has appeared like to date, what you are seeing, what you are listening to?
And might you drill down a bit in any respect on what you are seeing south of Izyum, in that space, southeast — southeast and southwest? Thanks.
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: I haven’t got a complete lot on using artillery. Once more, , we — we do not have good visibility in each — in — in each facet of the battle however we do see the Russians utilizing artillery to — to — as I’ve mentioned, to — upfront of the motion of floor forces.
However they haven’t been — our evaluation is that they haven’t been as efficient utilizing lengthy vary fires towards the Ukrainians as they wished to be. And — and the Ukrainians even have lengthy vary fires of their very own, they’ve artillery, they usually’re — they usually’re getting now — they’re going to be getting extra American artillery and the trainers to go together with it, to make use of of their protection.
So this — this might change into a little bit of a gun battle right here and — and positively the — the — the Russians are — are staying near doctrine, when it comes to how they’re utilizing artillery upfront of floor motion. However I — I — , I simply haven’t got a blow-by-blow for you.
Now — and issues are occurring — on the — your query about shifting to the south out of Izyum — so once more, we — we form of — for those who draw — if — for those who’re taking a look at Izyum, for those who have been to — the best way I would form of have a look at this, Dan, is — is draw a line instantly south from Izyum, going in the direction of a city referred to as Dobropillya — they — they — they clearly wish to make beneficial properties going from Izyum down in the direction of Dobropillya — truly, extra to the northwest of that city. That is that southwestern motion that we have been speaking about.
After which — after which draw the road from Izyum at about, not fairly 180 south, however perhaps 170 south, slightly bit to the east of south, in the direction of Sloviansk, they usually — they hold attempting to maneuver on Sloviansk, and I discussed that earlier. However they’ve — they’ve had bother advancing. They — they — they’re — they’re attempting arduous. They — they do not wish to get forward of their provide strains. The Ukrainians are pushing again, and so their advance in the direction of the Sloviansk space — Sloviansk-Kramatorsk, that — form of that little — that little axis proper there. They have not made a lot progress.
After which if I — after which draw one other line out of Izyum just a bit bit south of east in the direction of a city referred to as Lyman, L-Y-M-A-N, Lyman, which is the place they’re additionally attempting to advance to. However once more, they — they’ve made — however — however — however plodding progress there. They don’t seem to be — they don’t seem to be shifting very quick. A number of kilometers a day is about probably the most they’ll deal with as a result of they’re getting pushed again, and since they’re — once more, they’re cautious of getting out forward of their provide strains.
In order that’s form of the push out of Izyum, and that is actually, I imply, there may be some push from a city referred to as Kreminna, the place we do consider the Russians have possession of that, which is, for those who have a look at Lyman on a map and also you look not due — instantly due east, however slightly bit to the northeast, you may see this city of Kreminna — I am — I am most likely butchering easy methods to pronounce that, and we do consider the Russians are answerable for that, and they’re — they — they wish to transfer from Kreminna west in the direction of Lyman. So Lyman is unquestionably in — of their goal websites, however once more, they have not actually been capable of get a lot past Kreminna. Once more, they’re — the Ukrainians are up there. They’re in that space they usually’re preventing again bravely.
And it is the perfect I can do. I imply, I — I simply haven’t got a — , we simply haven’t got a fingertip really feel for each single scrap on any given day, however — however that is what the map seems like proper now.
Courtney?
QUESTION: Hello. Only one on the — the announcement from the White Home yesterday. Have you ever guys gotten any extra readability that — on the — any specifics on the accelerated cyber capabilities towards air protection programs? You already know, we — I — I do know the secretary talked slightly bit about it yesterday, and also you talked about particularly yesterday the — the S300s. Is there speak about sending THAAD or Patriots or one thing like that? After which, what’s accelerated cyber capabilities even imply? Thanks.
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: We’re simply speaking about with the ability to — to proceed to assist Ukraine enhance their cyber resilience, and a few of these funds shall be devoted to — to ongoing — will — shall be further to ongoing efforts to enhance the Ukrainians’ cyber — cyber protection and resilience capabilities, and I do not suppose we wish to get into greater than that. And I believe the secretary answered the superior air programs, air protection programs fairly properly yesterday. I — I do not wish to transcend what he mentioned yesterday. I believe — I believe he captured it fairly properly.
QUESTION: I suppose what I am attempting to determine, although, is do you — do you anticipate that the U.S. goes to begin giving the Ukrainians some U.S. air protection programs, superior air protection programs?
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: There is no — there is no energetic dialogue about that proper now, aside from — aside from, in fact, Stingers, short-range air protection. However in the long run — within the — in long-range air protection, what we’re targeted on, because the secretary mentioned, was on serving to them get the sorts of programs that they — that they know easy methods to use successfully and — and are accustomed to, and I haven’t got any indications that — that proper now, we’re ready to transcend that.
QUESTION: Okay, thanks.
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Jennifer Griffin? Jen, you there? Yeah, perhaps we misplaced Jen.
Heather from USNI?
QUESTION: Thanks a lot. So I do know that there is no maritime updates within the Black Sea space, however I used to be questioning for those who’ve seen any accumulation of Russian warships within the Mediterranean that counsel that they is perhaps attempting to get battle ships into the Black Sea.
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: No, I — I do not suppose now we have any — any updates within the — of their Med posture that might — I am wanting now on the maritime stuff. We’re not — no. We’re not — we’re not seeing something of their — of their Med maritime posture that — that give us instant concern that they are placing extra within the Black Sea, no.
Jack Detsch?
QUESTION: Sorry, on mute. I used to be questioning you probably have something on the reviews about Valery Gerasimov, the — the Russian chief of employees both being within the area in Ukraine taking on as theater commander or helping in, apparently, this — this Russian transfer out of Belgorod.
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: No, I imply, we — , we have seen the rumors, however we’re — we — now we have nothing to touch upon or verify with that.
QUESTION: Bought it. After which have you ever heard something concerning the — the Russians massing extra forces round Kharkiv to — to maneuver additional south?
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: The — let me — let me test that. Maintain on a second. Kharkiv — not prepared for a query on Kharkiv, Jack. Let’s examine if I’ve acquired one thing on that.
QUESTION: Yeah, the — the reporting we have seen was they have been southeast of — of Kharkiv for — for an additional drive. I am sorry.
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: That — that they’re southeast of Kharkiv?
QUESTION: Yeah, about 75 miles.
SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL: Yeah, so what we’re displaying — and once more, not — not good, however we — we — we do present some — some kinetic exercise, in different phrases, some — some strike exercise round Kharkiv. Our evaluation is that the Ukrainians proceed to mount a robust — what we’re referring to as a robust resistance in Kharkiv and the encircling space. So that they’re — the — the — we assess that the Ukrainians are answerable for Kharkiv, however they’re — however they — however they’ve confronted some stiffer Russian exercise each when it comes to bombardment and — and — and nonetheless — nonetheless Russian forces round Kharkiv, however they’re — however they’re pushing again. In order that’s the perfect I can do, I am afraid.
What — what we — what I — perhaps what you have been asking is are we seeing any massive motion from the Russians out of Kharkiv on form of a — a line of entry, and the reply to that might be no.
Okay, I believe that is about it for as we speak, guys.
Out right here.
