U.S. satellite company says Russian armored forces are relocating to Ukraine

Russian troops deployed in a forest near Belgorod, Russia, on the border with Ukraine on the 20th (local time) [맥사 제공. AFP=연합뉴스. 재판매 및 DB금지]

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U.S. commercial satellite company Maxar said on the 20th (local time) that Russian troops deployed to the border with Ukraine were recently moved to their garrison and deployed in small groups.

Analysts say that this can be seen as a more full-fledged war posture by Russia.

According to AFP/Archyde.com news agency, Maxa said that analysis of satellite images taken on the day confirmed many new armored equipment and units that were moved and deployed from the existing garrison to forests and fields. The location is 14-30 km from the border with Ukraine.

If you look at the picture, you can see traces of an armored vehicle passing by after it snowed, and there are forests, roads, and buildings around it. Some units are placed close to the side of a tree-lined road.

As a result of comparing the photos taken on the 13th and the 20th, Maxa analyzed that the movement of troops was witnessed at three locations in southwestern Russia.

“The majority of combat units and support equipment from Solotti Garrison had departed,” Maxa said.

He continued, “Some equipment was also deployed near the eastern side of Baluiki, Russia, about 15 km from the Ukraine border. It’s nearby,” he said.

In addition to this, other large-scale units have also been seen on farms and industrial sites, Maxa said.

“It shows that there are changes in the previously observed troop deployment,” Maxa said.

The New York Times (NYT), an American media outlet, evaluated that it can be seen that the Russian military, which had been stationed on a large scale, was deployed on a smaller scale.

Russian troops deployed in a forest near Belgorod, Russia, on the border with Ukraine on the 20th (local time) [맥사 제공. AFP=연합뉴스. 재판매 및 DB금지]

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According to videos recently circulated online, it appears that the Russian military continues to approach the Ukrainian border, and this activity is prominent in the Belgorod region, which is considered to be the main route of attack.

CNN reported on the same day, citing a U.S. official, that 75% of Russia’s main combat units had been deployed to target Ukraine.

According to the U.S. intelligence service, 120 out of 160 of Russia’s mechanized infantry-oriented mobile units, the Battalion Warfare Team (BTG), were deployed within 60 km of the border with Ukraine.

Typically, one BTG consists of a tank company, 3 mechanized infantry companies, 2 anti-tank companies, 2-3 artillery batteries and 2 air defense batteries, etc.

CNN reported that such a deployment by Russia is “very unusual” and is the basis for the US government’s judgment that Russia is prepared to attack Ukraine.

U.S. officials have estimated that the number of Russian troops deployed near the Ukrainian border could reach up to 190,000 if the pro-Russian rebels are included.

The New York Times added that US intelligence officials estimate that 40 to 50 percent of the more than 150,000 Russian troops on the Ukrainian border had combat formations.

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