From the Liveblog of
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Russian convoy outside Kyiv seen dispersing as US says offensive nearing capital
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleNew satellite photos show the long Russian convoy outside Kyiv appears to have dispersed to surrounding areas.
Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies shows the 40-mile (64-kilometer) line of vehicles, tanks and artillery has broken up and been redeployed, with armored units seen in towns near the Antonov Airport north of the city. Some of the vehicles have moved into forests, Maxar reports, including howitzers set up near Lub’yanka, north of Kyiv.
131/ Other images show that the long Russian convoy northwest of Kyiv (tweet 69) has mostly dispersed and redeployed, including here in a tree line near Lubyanka.
????: @maxar pic.twitter.com/vXfDRORyzO
— Evan Hill (@evanhill) March 11, 2022
The satellite intel comes as a US defense official tells the media that Russia forces have begun making progress toward the capital, after having appeared to stall for the last week.
The official says that the US expects the Russians to eventually overcome initial logistical challenges to mount a full-scale attack on the city, CNN reports.
“You’re starting to see a little bit of that happening in just the last 24 as they begin to creep a little closer towards Kyiv from the northwest,” the official says.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko says half the city’s population has fled, adding that the city “has been transformed into a fortress. Every street, every building, every checkpoint has been fortified.”
On Kyiv’s northeastern edge, Ukrainian soldiers describe a night of fierce fighting for control of the main highway leading into the capital.
130/ New satellite images collected this morning in Ukraine include this one showing multiple high rises in Borodyanka, northwest of Kyiv, that have been heavily damaged and partially collapsed. Same location as tank seen firing in tweet 82: 50.643383, 29.933464
????: @maxar pic.twitter.com/hR0p2Gci9k
— Evan Hill (@evanhill) March 11, 2022
An AFP team witnesses missile strikes in Velyka Dymerka just outside Kyiv’s city limits.
Ukrainian forces only had a minimal presence in the village, which locals said witnessed heavy battles overnight.
“It’s frightening, but what can you do?” says Vasyl Popov, a 38-year-old advertising salesman. “There is nowhere to really run or hide. We live here.”
The Times of Israel Community.