Lagatar24 Desk
Kyiv, Feb 23: Satellite photographs show new Russian military deployments near the Ukrainian border on Wednesday, raising fears that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine.
Notably, the Russian parliament approved yesterday to enable President Vladimir Putin to use the army to support separatists in Ukraine outside of Russia.
Maxar’s photos, taken over the last 24 hours, reveal the deployment and transit of additional logistics and supplies in southern Belarus as well as in various locations in western Russia near the Ukrainian border.
At a small airstrip near Mozyr in southern Belarus, more than 100 vehicles and dozens of army tents are part of the new activity. The airfield is within about 40 kilometres from Ukraine’s border.
Near Pochep, Russia, a huge area is being cleared for additional deployment. A new field hospital has been established at a military post in Belgorod’s western outskirts. Several more troops and equipment have been stationed in rural areas southwest of Belgorod, just 20 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.
Heavy equipment transporters (HETs), which transport tanks, artillery, and other heavy equipment, were spotted about 40 kilometres east of the Ukrainian border.
According to estimates from the US and Western allies, Russia has deployed more than 150,000 troops along Ukraine’s borders in recent weeks, with Washington warning that an invasion is imminent.
Notably, several countries, including the United States, have retaliated by imposing sanctions on Russia. The United States is also deploying soldiers to NATO member countries in Eastern Europe.
