US says Russian naval activity in Black Sea 'increased'

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Russia has "increased" its naval activity in the northern Black Sea region, the US alleged on Monday as Moscow continues its war against Ukraine.

A senior Pentagon official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, said Russia has over a dozen war ships in the northern Black Sea, some of which have been shelling the Ukrainian port city of Odessa. But he said it is not clear if the naval activity is a sign of an "imminent" amphibious assault on the city.

"At this point we would assess that it would be wrong to conclude that this is somehow an indication that Odessa is under an imminent threat of an amphibious assault, but we have seen increased activity by Russian surface combatants in the northern Black Sea," the official said.

Russia began its war on Ukraine on Feb. 24. It has launched some 1,100 missiles in the nearly one month since the invasion began, the official said.

The official said that in the 26 days since the invasion began, Russian forces have only been able to seize a handful of major population centers, including Melitopol, Berdyansk and Kherson.

"They don't have Kyiv, they don't have Kharkiv, they don't have Mariupol," said the official. "They haven't achieved anything in terms of what we assessed to be their objectives, which was population centers, so that they could occupy and take over Ukraine."

Russia's war has been roundly denounced by the international community for its war, and has been met with biting Western and allied sanctions and export controls being imposed on Moscow. The economic fallout has been exacerbated by an exodus of global firms fleeing Russia.

At least 925 civilians have been killed during the war, and 1,496 have been injured, according to the UN's tally. The international body warns, however, that the true casualty toll is "considerably higher."