Russia deploys more troops near Ukraine; US thinks invasion due ‘any time’

Satellite imagery has shown that Russia has amassed even more troops along the Ukraine border, and the US believes that an invasion may take place any time, reported Reuters on Friday.

The satellite images of new Russian troops being deployed were taken by a private American company, Maxar Technologies, which has been tracking the troop buildup along the Ukrainian border for weeks now.

Also read | British defence secretary visits Moscow to ease tensions amid Ukraine crisis

The images released by the company were taken on Wednesday and Thursday and showed significant new troop deployments in several areas in annexed Crimea, western Russia, and Belarus.

Maxar said that Russia had deployed 550 troop tents and hundreds of vehicles at the Oktyabrskoye airfield north of the city of Simferopol in Crimea. The company added that new troops had also arrived in the town of Slavne near Novoozernoye in Crimea.

A large contingent of troops, military vehicles, and helicopters were also spotted at Zyabrovka airfield near Gomel in Belarus, 25 kilometres from the border of Ukraine, the company said.

In western Russia, meanwhile, Maxar also spotted a large deployment of troops and equipment at the Kursk training area, 110 kilometres from the border of Ukraine.

Also read | Emmanuel Macron kept at distance from Putin after refusing COVID test

Reuters said that it could not independently verify the images.

The developments come on the back of Russia’s imposition of sea blockade around Ukraine. A day earlier, Ukraine officially put out a statement of protest against what it said was a Russian blockade in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

In light of the troop build-up US President Joe Biden advised Americans on Thursday to evacuate the country immediately, saying that “Things could go crazy very quickly.”

In an interview with NBC, the President warned, “American citizens should leave now. It’s not like we’re dealing with a terrorist organization. We’re dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It’s a very different situation, and things could go crazy quickly.”

Also read | Europe faces biggest security crisis: Boris Johnson as Ukraine tension deepens

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also warned that an invasion could take place any time, saying, “We’re in a window when an invasion could begin at any time, and to be clear, that includes during the [Winter] Olympics. Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation, including new forces arriving at the Ukrainian border.” The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics end on February 20.

Moscow, meanwhile, has said that the European Union (EU) and NATO’s response to its demands for security guarantees reeked of “disrespect.”