US Intelligence Sends Warning To Ukraine About Potential Russian Invasion
Michael Cantrell
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According to U.S. intelligence officials who spoke to Newsweek, Russia is set to potentially launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine within the next 48-hours.
“The President of Ukraine has been warned Russia will highly likely begin an invasion within 48 hours based on U.S. intelligence,” the U.S. official went on to tell the publication, going on to add that “reporting from aircraft observers indicates Russia violated Ukrainian airspace earlier today, flying possible reconnaissance aircraft for a short period over Ukraine.”
Here’s more from Newsmax:
A source close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government also confirmed that such a warning was given by the United States, although he pointed out that this was the third time Kyiv has been told about imminent large-scale Russian military action within the last month.
However, the source said that “it’s possible for sure,” because “Putin can’t keep so many troops in the field much longer.”
The U.S. intelligence official said that the assessment includes Russian airstrikes, cruise missiles and a ground invasion, as well as a major thrust toward the capital Kyiv from the northern border with Belarus, where the Russian military recently held joint exercises with their ally, according to Newsweek.
The source indicated, however, that daily developments could alter Moscow’s plans. A second U.S. official said that a ground invasion, most likely at night, would be preceded by a cyberattack.
“A short time after Newsweek was made aware of these American assessments, the websites for Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, Foreign Ministry and other institutions suddenly went offline in what may have been a large-scale cyberattack,” the report added.
Another source who also took part in a National Security Council call Tuesday confirmed to Newsweek that the White House was “incredibly pessimistic” concerning the Kremlin’s military operation being limited to the Russia-backed rebel republics and indicated that an invasion would probably take place sometime within 24 to 48 hours.
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