(RightWing.org) – Media outlets exploded with the news that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine on Monday, February 21, shortly after recognizing two breakaway territories, Donetsk and Luhansk, as independent republics. News reports quickly emerged claiming Putin’s move caught Ukrainian and Western leaders by surprise. However, US intelligence sources already indicated the Russian President had his sights on several possible targets.
On Sunday, Bloomberg reported three unnamed insiders revealed that US officials informed its allies that intelligence reports indicated Putin could target several Ukrainian cities like Kharkiv, Odesa, and Kherson.
#Russia is ready for war – Russian intel has compiled a list of targets in #Ukraine in order to paralyse UA self-defence #EstIntelReport
Read more: https://t.co/uqn5f8fgGs pic.twitter.com/02BPNxFfmO
— MoD Estonia (@MoD_Estonia) February 17, 2022
Located in Ukraine’s northeastern region, Kharkiv is the country’s second-largest city and an important cultural mecca. Both Odesa and Kherson operate as critical shipping ports and play a vital role in supporting Ukraine’s infrastructure. Both cities host industries including shipbuilding, oil refining, metalworking, and food processing, to name a few.
In November 2021, Media outlets reported US officials started sharing intelligence information with European allies, including maps detailing possible scenarios if Putin decided to send troops into Ukraine.
Putin says the troops will operate as a peacekeeping force to protect Donetsk and Luhansk. However, the situation on the ground in Ukraine remains fluid, depending in large part on how the US, Ukraine, and European allies decide to respond to Putin’s latest move.
Stay tuned for updates as events unfold.
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