Russia has prepared puppet government for Kyiv: US official
Russia has selected and prepared a puppet government to install in Kyiv once its forces seize the Ukrainian capital, a senior U.S. administration official told ABC News.
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/International/burning-house-kyiv-gty-220_hpEmbed_20220304-074258_3x2_992.jpg)
U.S. intelligence believes Russian troops will ultimately crush Kyiv and decapitate its government, amid mounting evidence of indiscriminate shelling and a barrage against civilian targets across Ukraine, according to the official.
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/International/russian-convoy-north-ukraine-ht-ps-220302_1646257546182_hpMain.jpg)
The official expressed concern that Ukraine lacks air power and what air force they had has been attacked, allowing Russia to mass its forces en route to Kyiv.
-ABC News' Martha Raddatz