New satellite imagery suggests Russia has bolstered the overall readiness of its military deployments in Belarus, Crimea and western Russia by adding more personnel and troops, said Maxar Technologies, a private US satellite imaging company.
Reuters was unable to independently verify the images from US-based Maxar Technologies, which it said were taken between January 19 and February 1.
The increase in Russian troops near Ukraine has stoked fears that Moscow may be planning an attack, something Russia denies. The Kremlin says that the troops and material arriving in Belarus, north of Ukraine, are intended for joint exercises.
Maxar said in a statement that although Russia had deployed military equipment and units near Ukraine in the past two months, few troops or new accommodation units for new personnel had been observed in many cases.
That had suggested some of the units had been predeployed or displaced, but the new images showed significant new deployments in Belarus and more personnel at various military sites, he noted.
“Staff tents/shelters have been seen at virtually all deployment locations in Belarus, Crimea and western Russia, suggesting that units are now accompanied by troops and have increased their overall readiness levelMaxar said.
“In addition, local military training activity (including artillery training and live-fire maneuvers) has been observed in progress at numerous training areas.”, he stated.
Konrad Muzyka, director of Poland-based consultancy Rochan, said his own analysis had found a surge in staffing in units previously close to Ukraine, and especially in Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.
Muzyka added that he believed Russian and Belarusian military exercises planned for this month would also take place in Crimea and western Russia.
“The biggest question is what will happen next. Will they come home? Or will they move to staging areas? The exercise itself provides them with a great opportunity to mask movements towards the maneuvering zones.”, he commented.
The Belarusian Defense Ministry has said that Russian military forces will leave the country after the exercises.
Source: Gestion
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