Pentagon assesses Russia's range of options against Ukraine

Pentagon assesses Russia's range of options against Ukraine

Ukrinform
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin considers that the buildup of Russian forces along Ukraine’s border provides Putin with a complete range of military options, including a full-scale invasion.

“While we don’t believe that President Putin has made a final decision to use these forces against Ukraine, he clearly now has the capability,” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a Pentagon news conference on January 28, AP reports.

Austin said Putin could use any portion of his force of an estimated 100,000 troops to seize Ukrainian cities and “significant territories” or to carry out “coercive acts or provocative political acts” like the recognition of already occupied Ukrainian territories.

Austin spoke alongside Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Milley noted that there were not only ground troops and naval and air forces near Ukraine’s border, but also cyber and electronic warfare capabilities, as well as special operations forces.

“If Russia chooses to invade Ukraine, it will not be cost-free, in terms of casualties and other significant effects,” Milley said, noting that Ukraine’s armed forces are more capable today than in 2014.

ol

While citing and using any materials on the Internet, links to the website ukrinform.net not lower than the first paragraph are mandatory. In addition, citing the translated materials of foreign media outlets is possible only if there is a link to the website ukrinform.net and the website of a foreign media outlet. Materials marked as "Advertisement" or with a disclaimer reading "The material has been posted in accordance with Part 3 of Article 9 of the Law of Ukraine "On Advertising" No. 270/96-VR of July 3, 1996 and the Law of Ukraine "On the Media" No. 2849-Х of March 31, 2023 and on the basis of an agreement/invoice.

© 2015-2024 Ukrinform. All rights reserved.

Extended searchHide extended search
By period:
-