Pentagon: Russia Adds 11 BTGs in Donbas

On Monday, a senior Defense Department official said that there are now 76 Russian battalion Tactical groups (BTGs) in Donbas and in southeastern Ukraine.

The official added in statements by Defense Department that among these groups there are 11 ones that were added during the past few days.

He mentioned that besides these groups, there are about 22 BTGs in northern Ukraine, and they are likely to be resupplied and refitted, noting that about 12 of these groups inside Ukraine are trying to control Mariupol, which is an important port on the Sea of Azov.

He added that Mariupol is still threatened by Russian airstrikes and heavy artillery, despite the strong resistance of the Ukrainians. If Mariupol falls into the Russians' hands, Moscow may start using some of these groups in other regions in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Contributed by Israa Farhan