Ukraine conflict: How many Russian troops are stationed on the Ukrainian border?
There are currently about 100,000 Russian troops stationed on the Ukrainian border, equipped with tanks, artillery and weapons, but Russia insists it is not preparing for an attack.
It should be noted that under normal circumstances, about 35,000 Russian troops are stationed on a permanent basis on the Ukrainian border.
On Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry released some photos showing Russian troops marching on a training center in Rostov, near the Ukrainian border.
Some of these troops are from 4,000 miles away in eastern Russia.
According to most estimates, there are more than 100,000 Russian troops stationed in the north, east, and south of Ukraine.
However, according to Ukraine's own estimates, broadcast on CNN, 216 Navy and Air Force personnel have been deployed along with 106,000 Russian troops.
On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said "intelligence indicates that 60 Russian militant groups are present on the Ukrainian border", accounting for about a third of Russia's total army.
In addition to conventional Russian troops, there are thought to be 15,000 Russian separatists in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine.
However, Western analysts say it is unclear whether Russia has made all the necessary preparations for a ground offensive.
He is referring to the absence of mobile field hospitals. He said the arrival of medical personnel could be a sign of full readiness for the attack.
Scenes from space
Satellite images provide more information in this regard.
Sometimes the presence of soldiers is indicated by the color of the tents. Tents in which soldiers are present because they are kept warm and the snow on their roofs melts, so their color becomes darker when viewed from space.
Armored vehicles are known for their shape. Tire marks or mud indicate that vehicles are moving.
On the other hand, thousands of Russian troops have been sent to Belarus to participate in joint military exercises, and their numbers are expected to increase between February 10 and 20.
Belarusian leader Alexander Lushenko has backed Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian capital is less than 100 miles from the Belarusian border.
Western analysts say the joint exercises will help prepare for an operation against Ukraine.
Image of a likely Russian military camp in Belarus, geolocated by @danvan71 near Rechitsa, 200 km north of Kyiv, shows BM-27 Uragan multi-launching rocket system transloader vehicle https://t.co/RhD67zwl9b pic.twitter.com/p3C3of8hCI
— CIT (en) (@CITeam_en) January 19, 2022
They claim that in the pictures posted online, military equipment, including armored vehicles, tanks and rocket systems, can be seen advancing towards the sea.
Russia, meanwhile, has announced plans to send its state-of-the-art Su-35 fighter jet to Belarus. Russia has also sent air defense and physical support personnel to Belarus.
Military readiness at sea
Russia has been conducting naval exercises around the world since this month, which will last until about February. They will include 140 warships and support boats, 60 aircraft, and about 10,000 military personnel.
Six Russian ships capable of carrying battle tanks, manpower, and armored vehicles are crossing the English Channel into the Mediterranean for military exercises.
However,''it is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.'' Some analysts say that it would be very difficult for Russian troops to come by sea and launch a ground attack, and that the purpose of these navies is to divert the attention of the Ukrainian ground forces from more important ground attacks.