Ukraine conflict: where Russia is stationing its troops and what the plan of attack looks like

Created: 02/23/2022, 14:05

By: Marvin Ziegele

The threat of Russia invading Ukraine is real.

But from where could the Russian troops attack?

An analysis.

Moscow – Russia has stationed a massive number of soldiers on the border with Ukraine*.

According to US* and Ukrainian government officials, the number is now over 190,000.

Russia * demonstrated the operational readiness of the troops in the past few weeks with several maneuvers.

But where exactly are the troops from Russia stationed on the border with Ukraine?

According to information from the New York Times, military analysts seem to agree.

Russia has numerous military bases near its border with Ukraine and has established several facilities in Crimea following the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Russian troops are also stationed in Transnistria, a Russian-backed breakaway region of Moldova.

Ukraine conflict: invasion by Russia?

In the event of an invasion, Russian troops could attack Ukraine from three sides: from the north, east and south.

From the north, Russian troops could attack Ukraine from neighboring Belarus.

Russia and Belarus recently held joint military exercises there.

The capital Kiev is within easy reach from here.

Joint exercises by Belarus and Russia have been running since January 2022.

The satellite image shows Russian forces stationed near the border with Ukraine.

© AFP PHOTO/SATELLITE IMAGE ©2022 MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES

In the south, experts reckon that Russian naval forces in the Black Sea could threaten Ukraine's southern coast.

There, Russia recently increased its fleet by several ships.

The naval exercises were strongly condemned by Ukraine.

Russia was accused of blocking international waters.

However, according to an analysis by Der Spiegel, an amphibious landing in southern Ukraine is extremely difficult.

However, in the south there is also the Crimean Peninsula, which has been occupied by Russian troops since 2014.

Russia is increasing troops: is Moscow planning an invasion?

But the biggest attack would come from eastern Ukraine.

This is where Russia has stationed most of its troops – not least by sending “peacekeeping troops” to the recently declared independent regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

The two separatist areas were continuously supported by Russia with equipment.

The troops deployed include fighter jets and attack helicopters, tanks, and elite paratroopers and special forces that military experts say would typically spearhead an invasion.

Russia and Ukraine: Russia has troops stationed here

On Monday (February 22nd, 2022) Vladimir Putin* recognized the eastern Ukrainian separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states.

The recognition had been condemned by Kiev and the West as a violation of international law.

According to UN estimates, more than 14,000 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine in recent years.

(Marvin Ziegele)