"But Western officials still aren't entirely sure why Russia has held back some forces outside of Ukraine's borders, or why Russia has not yet carried out the kind of electronic warfare against Ukraine the west had been anticipating -- like massive hacking campaigns and attacks on critical infrastructure.
One official said the US believes Russia has been holding back on severing communications on the ground -- a tactic the west had expected early but has yet to happen -- because the Russian military forces need that infrastructure to communicate amongst themselves.
As for the troops left on the border, it's possible that Russia has planned the attack in waves in an effort to exhaust the Ukrainians with the first wave and then demolish them with a second wave of fresh troops, according to two sources familiar with the intelligence. It's also possible, according to one of those sources, that Russia has simply moved cautiously after facing a tougher fight than expected.
At this point, officials said, it's impossible to put a timeline on how long Ukrainian forces will be able to hold the Russians at the gates of Kyiv.
"I can't put a number [on how long Kyiv lasts]," the senior western intelligence official said. "I can't tell you it's going to be hours or days.
"While the Ukrainians are putting on a stiff defense, and a much better one than I think the Russians anticipated, there will be a time where they will run out of ammunition. There will come a time where they run out of fuel and they can't move," this person said. "We are mindful of that and they are mindful of that."
US officials fear the worst is yet to come for Kyiv - CNNPolitics
Tuossa on edelleen tuo, kauan pystyvät kestämään kun ukkoa tulee vaan joka suunnasta :/. Siinä vaiheessa jos on saarrettu ja ammukset loppu, niin rauhanneuvotteluissa on aika ikävät paikat. Ja kostaako Venäjä sitten koko kansalle