Russian units are ‘surrendering’ as morale plummets, the US says

Despite a days-long procession towards Kyiv, unprepared Russian troops and supply issues have reportedly seen units “surrendering without a fight”.

A Senior US Defence official has claimed Russia’s assault on Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv has stalled due to logistic issues.

Speaking to CNN on grounds of anonymity, the official said units were running out of food and fuel, with some “surrendering without a fight”. As a result the assault is “basically … where it was yesterday,” they claimed.

“There has been in the last six days evidence of a certain risk averse behaviour by the Russian military,” they said.

“And they’ve got, a lot of these soldiers are conscripts, never been in combat before, some of whom we believe weren’t even told they were going to be in combat.”

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For days, Russian forces have been closing in on Kyiv, with the army expected to launch several strikes against major facilities.

On Tuesday, satellite images showed a 29 kilometre convoy of armoured vehicles, tanks, and artillery gathered on the outskirts of the city.

During a video address, President Volodymyr Zelensky said defending the capital would a “key priority” for the government.

“Kyiv is special. If we protect Kyiv, we will protect the state. This is the heart of our country, and it must keep beating,” he said.

“Some vehicles are spaced fairly far apart while in other sections military equipment and units are travelling two or three vehicles abreast on the road,” Maxar said.

Ukrainian forces detain servicemen of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic who were captured on February 24, 2022.(Photo by Anatolii Stepanov / AFP)

Pro-Russian separatists, in uniforms without insignia, gather in the separatist-controlled settlement of Mykolaivka (Nikolaevka) and Bugas, in Donetsk region (DPR) of Ukraine on March 1, 2022. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

A Russian Armoured personnel carrier (APC) burns next to unidentified soldier's body during a fight with the Ukrainian armed forces in Kharkiv. (Photo by Sergey BOBOK / AFP)

‘Suddenly withdrew:’ Marines abandon assault

Russian forces are also reportedly having similar struggles near the port city of Odessa, in the south of Ukraine.

An Ukrainian newspaper said marines on board the 810th Brigade of Russia ‘rioted’ against orders to begin their assault onto Luzanovsky beach, with relatives of troops confirming this.

As a result, the ship asked to leave the bay, unharmed.

Ukraine’s former Ambassador to Austria, Olexander Scherba said that Russia was approaching the coast and “about to shell the beach” when they “suddenly withdrew”.

“They approached the coast. Russia was about to shell the beach. Ukraine, Ukrainian was about to shoot back when they suddenly withdrew.

“Reports that marines from Crimea refused to attack Odessa.”

Ukrainian forces detain servicemen of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic who were captured during the morning attack on the town of Schast'ye, near the eastern Ukraine city of Lugansk, on February 24, 2022. (Photo by Anatolii Stepanov / AFP)

A burned-out Russian military vehicle is seen on the street. (Photo by Sergei Chuzavkov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Pro-Russian separatists, in uniforms without insignia, gather in the separatist-controlled settlement of Mykolaivka (Nikolaevka) and Bugas, in Donetsk region (DPR) of Ukraine on March 01, 2022. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Missiles hit Kyiv

This comes as two missiles were deployed on a TV tower in Ukraine’s capital. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine confirmed at least five people were killed and another five were injured in the blast, which has also knocked out TV channels.

Ukraine’s defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov claimed the move would allow Moscow to spread misinformation and “fake messages that the country’s leadership has given up”.

УВАГА‼️
Попадання в апаратну мовника на телевежі.
Якийсь час, канали не будуть працювати.
Найближчим часом буде включено резервне мовлення частини каналів.
Ворог може поширювати фейки з метою дестабілізації ситуації. Знайте, Україна бореться і вистоїть!#stoprussiapic.twitter.com/WE5iQAJG0z

— Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 1, 2022

Taking to Twitter, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the attack, which occurred near a Holocaust memorial was “evil and barbaric”.

“Kyiv TV tower, which has just been hit by a Russian missile, is situated on the territory of Babyn Yar,” he wrote.

“On September 29-30, 1941, Nazis killed over 33 thousand Jews here. 80 years later, Russian Nazis strike this same land to exterminate Ukrainians. Evil and barbaric.”