The diplomatic liar poker game continues. As Moscow defends itself against any plan to invade Ukraine and a summit between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin is now considered on the condition that an invasion does not take place by then, satellite images show new deployments of Russian troops and military equipment on the Ukrainian border, assured Sunday an American company.
Pictures show “multiple new field deployments of armored equipment and troops” from existing military sites in forests and fields about 14 to 30 km from the Russian-Ukrainian border, US satellite imagery company Maxar said in an email. These new photos taken on Sunday appear to show tracks of vehicles crossing snow-covered fields, surrounded by woods and lined with roads. You can also see several buildings there.
Analysis of images from Sunday and others taken on February 13 indicate movement of troops and equipment near three locations in southwestern Russia, according to the Colorado-based company. “Today most of the combat units and support equipment in Soloti have left the scene and numerous vehicle tracks and a few convoys of armored equipment can be seen throughout the area”explained Maxar. “Some equipment has also been deployed east of the nearby town of Valuyki, Russia, in a field about 15 kilometers north of the Ukrainian border.”
“In addition, a number of new deployments on the ground are also seen northwest of Belgorod (about 30 kilometers from the border with Ukraine), with much of the equipment and troops positioned in or near the forest areas»said the American firm. “Other company-sized units are deployed in agricultural and/or industrial areas.”
Moscow denies plans for attack
In recent weeks, Russia has placed more than 150,000 troops near the Ukrainian border, according to estimates by the United States and its Western allies, raising fears in Washington of an imminent invasion of Ukraine. “40 to 50% (of the troops) are in attack position. They deployed in tactical assembly during the last 48 hours., a US official told reporters on Friday, insisting on anonymity. Vladimir Putin blames this outbreak of violence on Ukrainian “provocations”, while the separatists ordered the evacuation of civilians and the mobilization of able-bodied men. The evacuation order prompted 53,000 civilians out of three million living in the separatist zone to reach Russia, according to Moscow, and a state of emergency was declared in the Russian region of Kursk.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced “provocative shots” rebels sponsored by Moscow and calls for the resumption of negotiations with Russia under the aegis of the OSCE and the establishment of a “immediate ceasefire”. Officials of the independentist region of Lugansk report on Monday two civilians killed in bombings by the Ukrainian army, unverifiable accusations from independent sources.
Moscow denies any attack plans, but demands guarantees that Ukraine will never join NATO and that Western powers will withdraw their forces from Eastern Europe, which the United States and its allies refuse.