Photo: A rescue worker gestures in front of the shopping and entertainment center in the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odessa on May 10, 2022, destroyed after Russian missiles strike late on May 9, 2022 . (Photo by Oleksandr GIMANOV / AFP) (Photo by OLEKSANDR GIMANOV/AFP via Getty Images) / AFP / Getty Images
Russia’s offensive in Ukraine could enter a more volatile and bloody chapter as the war progresses in the coming months, the top US intelligence official told lawmakers, warning that Vladimir Putin has the intention to expand the offensive beyond the eastern Donbas region.
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that the Russia’s new focus on Donbas after failing to capture the Ukrainian capital of kyiv was probably “only a temporary change” and assessed that “Putin’s strategic goals have probably not changed,” according to Politico.
“The uncertain nature of the battle, which is turning into a war of attrition, combined with the reality that Putin faces a mismatch between his two Russia’s current conventional military capabilities and capabilities likely mean that in the coming months we could move in a more unpredictable direction and potentially escalating trajectory,” Haines testified. “At a minimum, we believe the dichotomy will usher in a period of more ad hoc decision-making in Russia.”
Haines added that Putin could seek “more drastic means” on the home front and abroad to achieve his goals, including imposing martial law, shifting industrial production to sustain the war effort and “potentially escalated military actions”.
The Kremlin has threatened to use nuclear weapons, a threat that, according to Haines, is objective to dissuade the United States and other allies from providing Ukraine with more combat equipment .
Putin could authorize new nuclear drills as a signal to the West, Haines said, adding that the intelligence community assesses that it would approve the use of nuclear weapons is only “if it perceives a threat existential challenge for the Russian state or regime”.
And despite the change in the offensive towards the Donbas region, where the Ukrainian troops have Spending years fighting Russian-backed separatists, Haines told senators that Putin intends to expand the war beyond the country’s industrial region.
The intelligence chief testified that Russia seeks to create a land bridge from Crimea to Transnistria, in neighboring Moldova, but it cannot do so without greater military mobilization.
“Even if they are successful, we are not sure that the fighting in the Donbas effectively ends the war,” Haines said. “We assess that President Putin is preparing for a protracted conflict in Ukraine during which he still intends to achieve goals beyond the Donbas.”
Haines testified alongside Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, as part of this Senate committee’s annual global hearing on threats.
“The United States faces military and intelligence threats from competitors, particularly Russia and China, which have and are developing new capabilities designed to dispute, limit or overcome the United States military advantage”, said Berrier.
Haines testimony comes as Congress and President Joe Biden seek to keep the flow of guns and teams to the Ukraine to fend off the Russian offensive. Biden asked Congress to authorize $ one billion dollars for the continued military assistance to Ukraine, as well as further humanitarian and economic assistance.
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved nearly $40 $1 billion in additional aid to Ukraine as Ukraine battles Russia’s brutal invasion, now in its third month, CNN reported.
Tonight, the House proudly passed a monumental package of security, economic and humanitarian aid on a strong bipartisan vote.
Building on robust support already secured by Congress, this package will help Ukraine defend not only its nation but democracy for the world.— Nancy Pelosi ( @SpeakerPelosi) May 11, 2022
The military, economic and humanitarian support package, which is $7 billion dollars more than the $33 One billion requested by President Biden, was approved in a bipartisan vote of 60 a 57, and the Senate is expected to do the same this week.
The Department of Defense also requested that this aid be approved for Ukraine, as previously allocated funds are about to run out.
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