Tanks, transport vehicles, howitzers: Photos clearly show that Russia is amassing military power on the border with Ukraine. Experts fear that he could be planning to invade.
Russia’s Armed Forces Test Combat Readiness Close to Ukraine’s Border
Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 18 Issue: 76
May 12, 2021 07:57 PM
Age: 5 hours
Since Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in February–March 2014 and its subsequent involvement in destabilizing southeastern Ukraine, Russia’s Armed Forces frequently conduct force generation close to the border. In March, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered a snap inspection of combat readiness across Russia’s system of Joint Strategic Commands (
Obyedinennyye Strategicheskoye Komandovanie OSK)/Military Districts (MD), with the movement of troops and heavy equipment especially close to Ukraine’s border. By late April, Shoigu ordered units back to their permanent bases. However, it quickly became apparent that most of those Russian units have not stood down (see EDM, April 22, 27 [1][2][3]). Based on the released details of the buildup, the forces that moved in proximity to the border with Ukraine arguably la