According to a report by the US secret service, Russia is planning an attack with up to 175,000 soldiers in the conflict with Ukraine. Washington Post reports. Half of the soldiers are said to have already been transferred to the border.
Up to 175,000 soldiers and 100 tactical battalions, including tanks, artillery and equipment: this is the Kremlin’s attack plan against Ukraine, according to a report in the Washington Post. The newspaper notes, among other things, a US intelligence report that it has.
US President Biden warns Russia against an invasion of Ukraine
Tajishav 8:55 am, Dec 4, 2021
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Accompanying satellite images show that Russia is setting up troops and equipment at four locations near the border with Ukraine. 50 tactical battalions with around 70,000 soldiers have already been relocated. According to the newspaper report, the Russian armed forces are currently gathering at four points. Movements towards and away from the border are intended to obscure the tactical approach and create uncertainty.
US intelligence agencies are “extremely concerned”
Early next year Moscow wanted to be prepared for a possible attack that could come from several quarters. The US secret service was “deeply concerned about indications that Russia has falsified plans to take aggressive action against Ukraine”. Pentagon spokesman Tony Semmelroth said Washington supports “further de-escalation in the region and a diplomatic solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine”.
US President Joe Biden has warned his counterpart Vladimir Putin about troop deployment concerns and increasingly aggressive rhetoric from the Kremlin. Biden said he was preparing “the most comprehensive and significant series of initiatives to make it very difficult for Mr. Putin to do what he so fears”.
Ukraine fears attack in late January
The US government has been warning of a possible Russian attack on Ukraine for days and is threatening sanctions. Moscow denies and accuses NATO of fueling tension in the region. Biden and Putin could try directly to defuse the situation next week. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, a video link is being prepared between the two presidents.
Ukraine fears an attack by Russia in a few weeks. “The most likely time to prepare for an escalation is the end of January,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Resnikov said on Friday. The Ukrainian secret service is currently analyzing all possible scenarios.
With information from Julia Kasten, ARD-Studio Washington
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Washington Post: US intelligence agencies warn of Russian attack on Ukraine
Julia Castin, ARD Washington, December 4th, 2021, 8:22 am
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