US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday characterized the Russian military as the most powerful land force in Europe amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
"[The Ukrainians] were invaded by the most powerful land force in Europe," Austin told reporters.
At present, the Ukrainians are primarily focused on the Kharkov area of the battlefield and will be directing most of the US-provided resources there, Austin added.
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian forces. Russia said that the aim of its special operation is to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine.