The Department of Defense provided a bleak outlook on the standoff with Russia over a possible incursion into Ukraine, though it said it’s not too late to avoid a military conflict.
While Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reiterated during a Friday press conference their belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn’t made a final decision about whether to invade, though “there are multiple options available to him,” the former explained.
Putin has mobilized more than 100,000 troops around Ukrainian borders, both in Russia and Belarus, raising widespread fears that a new offensive could come, and the White House recently warned that an incursion could occur “at any point.” The United States’s warnings have continued at a fevered pitch, while Ukrainian officials have downplayed the possibility of an imminent attack.
Austin warned the Russian military could seize “cities and significant territories” and that if it attacked in a more political nature, it could promote “provocative political acts like the recognition of breakaway terrorizes.”
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Milley also said there could be a “significant” number of casualties should Russia invade.
“Given the type of forces that are arrayed, the ground maneuver forces, the artillery, the ballistic missiles, the air forces, all of it packaged together,” he said. “If that was unleashed on Ukraine, it would be significant, very significant, and it would result in a significant amount of casualties.”
The U.S. has made preemptive moves to ensure it is prepared for a possible incursion.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken ordered “eligible family members” of U.S. diplomats in Ukraine to leave, and the department is allowing “non-emergency U.S. government employees” to depart if they so choose, while 8,500 U.S. troops were put on “heightened alert” for a possible deployment to Eastern Europe. The Pentagon also warned that additional troops could also be given such a notice.
Should these troops, which include parts of the 82nd Airborne Division, the 101st Airborne Division, the 3rd Infantry Division, and the 4th Infantry Division, get deployed, it won’t be for an offensive.
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“We haven’t actually moved any troops. We put troops on higher alert,” Austin explained. “And the second point that I would make is that even if and when we do move troops, the purpose of those troops deploying would be to reassure allies or directly in support of NATO.”
