Russia is ready to send up to 1,000 more mercenaries to Ukraine in the nearest future, CNN reports, citing a high-ranking Western intelligence official. According to the American broadcaster, Moscow can "bomb cities to subjugation", which can lead to significant civilian casualties.
According to CNN, some Russian forces have problems with morale and failures on the battlefield, in particular, a massive convoy north of Kyiv, which for the past few days is mostly at a dead end, unable to move forward.
It is reported that the forces of mercenaries will strengthen the weakened parts. CNN notes that the United States estimates that mercenaries already in Ukraine "have performed poorly in the face of tougher-than-expected resistance from Ukrainians," and that by the end of February, about 200 such mercenaries had been killed during the war.
Meanwhile, US and Western officials expect Russia to increase the pace and strength of its strikes on key Ukrainian settlements, including the capital, Kyiv.