Russian Military Operations in Ukraine Update: Battle of Donbas “Begins” Says Pentagon

Update: Russian Military Operations in Ukraine – April 23, 2022
– Pentagon admits a “new” major offensive is unfolding in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region;
– US continues to send heavy weapons including 72 155mm howitzers and 144,000 rounds;
– US is also sending 121 “Phoenix Ghost” drones but is not disclosing its function;
– Mariupol city has been fully secured by Russian forces;
– Russian President Vladimir Putin cancels storming of Azovstal steel plant where last Ukrainian holdouts remain;
References:
US Department of Defense – Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby Holds a Press Briefing APRIL 21, 2022 (includes video of briefing): https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcri…
TASS – Russian troops destroy 520 drones, 2,448 tanks in Ukraine operation — top brass (April 22, 2022): https://tass.com/defense/1441485
Fortune – Meet the Phoenix Ghost, a secretive new drone the U.S. fast-tracked for delivery to Ukraine: https://fortune.com/2022/04/22/phoeni…
AEVEX Aerospace – homepage: https://aevex.com/
Bloomberg – Transcript: Vladimir Putin’s Televised Address on Ukraine (February 24, 2022): https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl…
TASS – Putin orders to cancel Azovstal steel plant storming in Mariupol and block industrial zone: https://tass.com/politics/1440943?utm…
TASS – Russian forces take Azovstal plant administration building in Mariupol — Kadyrov: https://tass.com/defense/1441347
TASS – Nationalists blocked at Azovstal not allowed to surrender – Kadyrov: https://tass.com/politics/1441387