THE PENTAGON COMMENTED ON THE SITUATION OF RUSSIAN TROOPS IN KYIV, KHARKIV, AND CHERNIHIV
Voice of America
The Pentagon says Russian troops are continuing fighting and efforts in all directions, according to Voice of America correspondent Jeff Seldin.
A senior US Defence Department official said today that advanced units of Russian troops are located 25 kilometres from the centre of Kyiv. Speaking about Kharkiv and Chernihiv, the Pentagon said that Russian troops are at a distance of 10 kilometres from the city centres.
The United States also cannot deny reports that Russia has seized Kherson, the Pentagon said. Ukrainian forces, the US Department of Defence said, continue to control Mariupol.
A Pentagon official also said that there was no reason to doubt Russia's statements about the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. According to the official, the seizure of power plants and important infrastructure may be motivated by the desire to control the population.
According to Seldin, the US government notes that they are "extremely impressed" by the efficiency of Ukrainian forces using the equipment provided to them by the West. "They can spread it very quickly ... and they can use it," said the U.S. official.
At the same time, the official pointed out that so far there is no evidence that Russia is obstructing the entry of security assistance to Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom posted information about the situation in Ukraine as of March 4.
The British agency reported that the column near Kyiv did not move for four days. "Heavy fighting in northwestern Kyiv continues today, and this is likely to include renewed fighting around Hostomel Airport," the British Defence Ministry said.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the 9th day of Russia's invasion, its goal remains to encircle Kyiv and weaken resistance in the blocked settlements.
"In the course of this task, the Russian Armed Forces exhausted most of its operational reserves and began transferring additional forces and resources from the Southern and Eastern military districts.»
According to Russian media, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday during a conversation with German Chancellor Scholz called Russia's demands: nuclear-free status, demilitarization, "denazification." Russia also expects recognition of the illegally annexed Crimea, recognition of the so-called "republics" in eastern Ukraine.
Earlier, Putin said that attempts to gain time by delaying talks on the part of Ukraine would lead to the emergence of "new demands on Kyiv."
The Office of the President of Ukraine reports: "The position of President Volodymyr Zelensky on negotiations with Russia remains tough: Ukraine will not make any concessions that could undermine our struggle for territorial integrity.»
