While Russia's war in Ukraine is encountering more resistance on the battlefield than predicted, the Russian government has imprisoned over 3,000 domestic protesters for opposing it at home.
According to the human rights organization OVD-Info, Russian security services detained 3,093 people between Thursday, when anti-war marches began in Russian towns, until early Sunday morning. Crowds gathered in Moscow and St. Petersburg streets last week, with some yelling "no war."
On Sunday, another anti-war protest erupted in Moscow, with demonstrators being pummeled by police.
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According to American sources, the arrests come as Russian authorities continue to be upset by slower-than-expected progress in their invasion of Ukraine.
"We continue to see evidence of viable Ukrainian resistance," a senior US defense official said Saturday evening. "We continue to believe, based on what we've witnessed, that this opposition is larger than what the Russians expected, and they are obviously disappointed."
"We continue to feel that Russia lacks air superiority. Ukrainian air defenses, including aircraft, are still operational and continue to engage and deny Russian aircraft entry in various locations across the nation "Added the senior official.
The Ukrainian government is arming residents with weapons in order to combat Russian invaders. Citizens and soldiers are seen fighting Russian troops in photos and videos posted online, and in some cases, taking out Russian vehicles.
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"Russian forces are continuing to move into Ukraine from various axes but are continuing to be faced with stiffed resistance from the Ukrainian Armed Forces," according to intelligence released by the UK defense ministry on Sunday morning.
"Strong opposition in Chernihiv" prompted Russian soldiers to simply bypass the area "to prioritize the encirclement of Kyiv," according to the military ministry.
Meanwhile, western governments are ratcheting up sanctions against Russia and providing additional military aid to the Ukrainian government. The United States stated on Saturday that numerous Russian banks would be cut off from the international SWIFT banking system.
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The punishments aren't as severe as they could be. Officials are attempting to exempt energy transactions in order to avoid a spike in oil and gas costs, especially in Europe, where even NATO countries rely on Russian energy.
Despite their measured nature, sanctions are harming Russia's central bank and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a senior US administration official, who claimed the measures are turning Russia into a "global economic and financial pariah."
On the military front, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Saturday that the US will provide Ukraine with "up to $350 million in immediate defensive help."
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