By George Wright
BBC Recordsdata
Image source, EPA
Image caption, Moscow would handiest use nuclear weapons if Putin perceives an “existential threat” to Russia, US intelligence says
Vladimir Putin is making ready for a protracted battle in Ukraine, with even victory in the east potentially no longer ending the battle, US intelligence has warned.
The warning comes as fierce battling continues in the east, the place Russia is attempting to bewitch territory.
Moscow refocussed its troops on shooting the Donbas position after Ukraine resisted makes an attempt to bewitch its capital Kyiv.
But despite this, its forces remain in a stalemate, US intelligence acknowledged.
Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence, beneficial a US Senate committee hearing on Tuesday that Mr Putin used to be silent intending “to beget dreams beyond the Donbas”, but that he “faces a mismatch between his ambitions and Russia’s recent standard defense power capabilities”.
She added that the Russian president used to be “potentially” counting on US and EU enhance for Ukraine to weaken as inflation, food shortages and energy costs got worse.
Nevertheless, the Russian president would possibly per chance flip to “extra drastic methodology” as the battle continues – even supposing Moscow would handiest use nuclear weapons if Mr Putin perceives an “existential threat” to Russia.
Defence Intelligence Company Director Scott Berrier beneficial the the same hearing that the Russians and the Ukrainians had been “at a miniature bit of a stalemate”.
Within the latest battling, Ukraine claims to delight in recaptured four settlements in the north-eastern Kharkiv position.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy acknowledged Ukrainian successes had been frequently pushing Russian forces out of Kharkiv, which has been bombarded because of the the battle began.
But he acknowledged Ukrainians “would possibly per chance silent no longer earn an ambiance of excessive ethical tension, the place victories are expected weekly and even every single day”.
Image source, Reuters
Image caption, Avril Haines and Scott Berrier had been speaking in a Senate hearing
In Ukraine, our bodies of 44 civilians delight in been sign in the rubble of a collapsed constructing in the metropolis of Izyum as the strive against for adjust of the distance rages.
The five-storey constructing collapsed in March as residents hid in the basement from Russian shelling, but rescuers delight in handiest ethical been in an enviornment to keep the constructing.
The final strive against for Mariupol is being fought in the sprawling Azovstal steelworks, the place a entire bunch of Ukrainian warring parties are holed up in underground tunnels and bunkers, surrounded by Russian troops.
Shooting Mariupol is a key battle plot of Moscow, because of the doing so would give it adjust of 1 of Ukraine’s greatest ports and more uncomplicated salvage valid of entry to to the wider position.
Within the eastern metropolis Odesa, missiles struck various constructions in a single day and shook homes inner sight. One person used to be killed and five individuals had been injured, Ukraine’s military acknowledged.
War in Ukraine: More protection