Russia Intensifies Airstrikes in Ukraine Targeting Civilians, Expected to Strike Near NATO Border Soon

Jenna Browder
03-15-2022

Share This article

WASHINGTON – With Russian ground troops stalled, Vladimir Putin is stepping up his airstrikes on Ukrainian civilians. 

Officials say the airstrikes are meant to stir feelings of fear and defeat, but for now Ukrainian resistance appears to be holding. 

"The Ukrainians continue to fight back bravely and skillfully and you've heard me use the word 'creatively' and I would say that continues to be the case," said Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby. 

Still, new visuals show the extent of the devastation with the capital city of Kyiv seeing its heaviest bombardment yet. 

The attacks come as Moscow also expands its assault to the western part of the country after weeks of targeting central and eastern Ukraine, like this church that was bombed in Mariupol:

U.S. officials warn the city of Lviv along Ukraine's western border could be next as Russia believes it's a staging ground for Ukrainian resistance and western military aid. 

"The more Russia conducts strikes in the west of Ukraine, and the more Russian forces move in that direction, the greater the chances for miscalculation," Bradly Bowman with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies told CBN's Faith Nation. 

Bowman believes it's imperative the U.S. work with its NATO allies to reinforce NATO's eastern flanks, deterring Putin from any aggression directed at a NATO member. 

"Once he does that, it would invoke Article Five of the North Atlantic Treaty and you would have Russia and our NATO allies at war, something we were able to avoid for four decades during the Cold War," explained Bowman. 

Meanwhile, feeling the pain of western sanctions, the Kremlin has reached out to China for military equipment. China is said to be considering the request, though Beijing denies it. 

The State Department delivered a stark warning for China or any other nation that aids Russia in its assault on Ukraine. 

"We will ensure that no country is able to get away with such a thing," said State Department spokesman Ned Price. 

In Russia, a brave show of resistance went viral on Monday when a woman crashed a popular newscast on Russian state television. Her poster read, "No War" as she urged Russians to not believe the lies or propaganda put out by the channel. 

More peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are expected Tuesday. 

And in an extraordinary show of support for Ukraine, the leaders of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia will visit Kyiv. 

President Biden is also reportedly considering a trip to Europe in the coming weeks. 

***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you keep receiving the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***

Share This article

About The Author

Jenna
Browder

Jenna Browder co-hosts Faith Nation and is a network correspondent for CBN News. She has interviewed many prominent national figures from both sides of the political aisle, including presidents, cabinet secretaries, lawmakers, and other high-ranking officials. Jenna grew up in the small mountain town of Gunnison, Colorado and graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she studied journalism. Her first TV jobs were at CBS affiliates in Cheyenne, Wyoming and Monroe, Louisiana where she anchored the nightly news. She came to Washington, D.C. in 2016. Getting to cover that year's
More