US seeing 'initial phases of a large-scale invasion' in Ukraine: Official

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US is seeing "initial phases of a large scale invasion" in Ukraine, and Russia aims to "decapitate" the government there, a senior defense official said Thursday.

Speaking to reporters via a teleconference, the official said Russia used approximately 75 fixed-wing heavy and immediate bombers as a part of its "initial onslaught".

More than 100 missiles were launched in the initial phase and 10 airfields were targeted, said the official.

"Thus far we have seen them (Russian forces) advanced on essentially three main axes of assault," said the official.

One is from the south to the north, from Crimea to the city of Kherson, the other is from northcentral Ukraine to the south, from Belarus to Kiev and the third main axis is from the northeast of Ukraine to the south, from Belarus to Kharkov, according to the official.

"We still believe it's our assessment that they have every intention of basically decapitating the government and installing their own method of governance," the official added.

Early Thursday, Russian President Putin announced a military intervention in Ukraine, days after recognizing two breakaway enclaves in eastern Ukraine, drawing international condemnation and vows of tougher sanctions on Moscow.

Explosions were reported in several Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, and tanks reportedly crossed the border from Belarus into Ukraine.

In recent weeks, US officials accused Russia of amassing more than 150,000 troops around Ukraine to launch a military attack but Moscow repeatedly denied any intent to launch an invasion.

*Kasim Ileri contributed to the story