The White House acknowledged on Friday that the fall of Kiev to Russia is a “real possibility” as Russian troops advance in Ukraine. “Despite the resistance we see on the ground, Russian forces continue to advance toward Kiev,” White House press secretary Jean Psaki said at a news conference on Friday.
“The fall of Kiev is a real possibility,” she said.
However, she did not comment on how the Biden administration would react if that happened.
Kiev could fall into the hands of Russian troops within 24 to 48 hours, according to U.S. estimates Thursday.
Earlier in the day, Ukrainian troops said they had repelled a Russian attack on Kiev, one of the capital’s main streets. Russia “attacked a military unit on Victory Avenue in Kiev. The attack was repelled,” AFP reported, citing a Facebook post by the Ukrainian army. The post did not mention the exact location of the incident.
According to reports, Russian troops are advancing towards Ukraine on both sides of the Dnieper. The Russian military also controls several airfields that can be used to send more troops to the country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is believed to be aiming to take control of the whole of Ukraine by overthrowing his current leadership. However, military operations have so far been concentrated in the eastern, southern and central parts of the country.
Earlier, the Ukrainian military said it had shot down a Russian military transport plane carrying paratroopers. The Il-76 heavy transport plane was shot down near the town of Vasylkiv, 40 kilometers south of Kiev, according to a statement from the military’s general staff. So far, the Russian military has not issued an official statement confirming the loss.
Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky released a video message from the streets in front of the presidential palace in Kiev to appease the country in the face of Russian aggression. In the video, Zelensky said he and his top officials would remain in the capital to defend the country.
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