US officials warn Russia seeking ‘slow annihilation’ of Ukraine’s military

3 March 2022, 3:55 pm

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In this photo taken from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on March 3, 2022, a Russian soldier points a gun from a Russian military helicopter as it flies over an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

Russia is changing up its strategy in Ukraine to increasingly target civilian areas and bring about the “slow annihilation” of the Ukrainian military, CNN reports, citing US and Western officials.

The officials say Russia is sending in more heavy weaponry and carrying out more strikes on civilian infrastructure. One of the officials says the change in tack is likely due to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s realization that Kyiv won’t be swiftly captured.

While Ukrainian resistance has stalled the Russian offensive, a Western official quoted in the report predicts Russian forces will win out.

“The cruel military math of this will eventually come to bear, absent some intervention, absent some fundamental change in the dynamic,” the official says.