In addition to the 76 Battalion Combat Teams (BTGs), there are about 22 more BTGs north of Ukraine that are likely to be replenished, according to a senior Pentagon official, Voice of America reports..

According to the official, about 12 BTGs in Ukraine are trying to seize Mariupol.

“Our assessment is that Mariupol is still not captured,” the official said..

A significant number of Russian ground forces are in and around Mariupol, according to a Pentagon official..

The U.S.

military estimates that if Mariupol comes under Russian control, that would free up about 12 BTGs for use in eastern or southern Ukraine..

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The US Defense Department believes that the Russian army has some potential for amphibious operations in the Black and Azov Seas.. So far, there are no signs that Russia is preparing for it, according to a Pentagon spokesman..

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Russia deployed heavy artillery, command and control equipment, rotary-wing aircraft and 11 new battalion tactical groups to the south and east of Ukraine.