Ukraine conflict: Russia ramping up naval and air activity, says Pentagon 

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

The Pentagon claimed on Monday that Russia was boosting air and sea military operations in Ukraine as it struggles to turn the tide of war in Ukraine, where the "dexterity" of the defence mounted by Kyiv is stalling the invasion.

A senior US official claimed that the Kremllin was "desperate" to increase its momentum in a war in which its troops have grown "frustrated and flummoxed" by a resistance that has shown durability despite being outmanned and outgunned, AFP reported.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

President Vladimir Putin's forces have ramped up their sorties over and near Ukraine, flying more than 300 missions in the past 24 hours, with Kyiv likewise increasing their own air operations in a bid to deny Russia superiority in the skies, the official told reporters.

Few of the operations are dogfights, as Russia's military tends to fire air-to-ground missiles at Ukrainian targets from Russian or Belarusian skies.

Also Read | No breakthrough yet at Russia-Ukraine peace talks, says Kremlin

"They're not venturing very far or for very long into Ukrainian airspace, because the Ukrainians have been defending their airspace with great dexterity," the official was quoted by AFP as saying, on condition of anonymity.

The official said that Russia is exhibiting 'increasing naval activity' in northern Black Sea. Russia is using multiple warships that are contributing shelling around port city of Odessa.

"What we're seeing is a near desperate attempt by the Russians to gain some momentum and try to turn the course of this in their favour," the defence official said, noting that on day 26 of the offensive, Russian forces remain pinned down 15 kilometres (nine miles) northwest and 30 km east of Kyiv.

At the weekend Moscow claimed it had fired hypersonic missiles at targets in Ukraine, but the Pentagon on Monday would not confirm or refute that the next-generation weaponry had been used.

The senior defence official did offer that from a military point of view using a hypersonic missile to hit a stationary target made little sense.

"It could be that they're trying to send a message to the West but also to Ukraine, and trying to gain leverage at the negotiating table," he added.

Russia also has been experiencing "a not insignificant number of failures" of its precision-guided munitions, the official said.

But the military's available combat power remains at roughly 90 percent, he added.

Ukraine's combat power is at a similar level in part because of contributions from Washington and other western powers.

(With inputs from agencies)