Russia’s military strategy in Ukraine aimed at key cities, decapitating central government

Russia’s initial military action in Ukraine suggests its forces are making an audacious thunder run to capture key cities on the way to Kyiv, where they hope to isolate and eventually decapitate the Western-backed government and install new leadership loyal to Moscow, analysts and Pentagon officials said Thursday.

Using airstrikes, ballistic missiles and tanks to destroy or seize an array of military objectives, Russian forces opened a three-front campaign with troops and heavy weaponry moving from the north, south and east. U.S. defense officials described it as an “early onslaught,” saying the Kremlin is likely later to send in more of the nearly 200,000 troops it has positioned along Ukraine’s border.