Russia has in recent days accelerated its preparations for a major ground operation in Ukraine, according to satellite footage published today (Monday) on the American news network CNN.
According to the series of photographs revealed, since the end of 2021, the Russian army has deployed hundreds of tanks and cannons from front bases, including a base that has served as a concentration of Russian forces in the southern border of Ukraine since construction of Russian forces began in the region.
Satellite image of Russian military forces deployed near Belarus's border with Ukraine, Photo: AP
The removal of the forces from the bases and their transfer to the forces stationed near the border means that the Russian army is preparing for an operational phase of ground invasion of Ukrainian territory.
"These are important changes in the deployment of Russian forces on the ground," Conrad Musica, a military expert at the Roshhan Strategic Institute, told CNN.
"We are now entering a new phase of Russian deployment where reinforced forces, along with manned vehicles, are moving towards the assembly areas for a ground operation."
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense estimated last week that Russia is concentrating more than 150,000 troops near the border, in the territories of Russia and Belarus.
Yesterday it was revealed that officials in the US security system estimated that more than 50,000 people would die in the event of a war between the countries and that the Russian army was able to occupy or besiege the capital Kiev within two days.
Satellite image of Russian military forces deployed near Belarus's border with Ukraine, Photo: AP
Meanwhile, the U.S. and Russia yesterday exchanged accusations surrounding military tensions in the region. Moscow officials accused Washington of waging war, claiming that the transfer of thousands of American troops to Poland and Romania was proof of American intent to act against Russia and its desire to drag the entire region into war.
On the other hand, President Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, rejected the Russian accusations, saying that it was Moscow that could start the war.
"We believe that Putin is capable of invading Ukraine, and that could happen in some forms. It could happen tomorrow or take a few weeks," he said.
Satellite image of Russian military forces deployed near Belarus's border with Ukraine, Photo: AP
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