Russian forces move within 15 kilometers of Kyiv's city center: Pentagon

The Russian forces closest to the heart of Kyiv are coming from the northwest, in the area of the Hostomel Airport, Report informs, citing ABCnews.

Since Wednesday, these troops fought their way three miles closer, bringing them within roughly nine miles of the city center, according to a US defense official. The airport is only about five miles as the bird flies from the outer city limits.

Two parallel lines of advance from the northeast are also making progress on their push to the capital, the closest of these troops now about 25 miles from the center of Kyiv.

Russian forces have now fired more than 775 missiles against Ukraine, the official said. This is up from an estimate of 710 on Wednesday.

The official said there is no talk at the Pentagon of sending Patriot systems to Ukraine, as they would require US troops on the ground to operate them.

"It's not a system that the Ukrainians are familiar with. And as we have made very clear, there will be no US troops fighting in Ukraine," the official said.