The American publication Politico reported that Russia allegedly transferred tanks to the borders of Ukraine. As evidence portal led satellite photographs taken in the area of the city of Yelnya, Smolensk region.
According to US media reports, units, including the “elite 1st Guards Tank Army,” moved to the Smolensk region from their permanent deployment locations in other parts of Russia. Nevertheless, this region does not border on Ukraine, but has borders only with Belarus.
Politico also cites an analysis by the British military publishing house Jane’s, according to which the placement of the 1st Guards Tank Army at Yelnya “is clearly different from the standard training routes.”
On October 30, The Washington Post announced an increase in the presence of Russian troops near Ukraine. According to the newspaper, “unusual movements of equipment and military” in the west of Russia were recorded after the completion of the large-scale exercises “West-2021”.
On November 1, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry denied information about a buildup of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border. The Ministry of Defense noted that they had not recorded the facts of a build-up of Russia’s military presence in the form of units, weapons and military equipment near the Ukrainian border.
At the same time, information about the transfer of Russian troops that appeared earlier in the media was called “an element of special information and psychological actions.” They also stressed that the maneuvers of military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces, which are taking place near the borders of Ukraine, are planned activities within the framework of its movement after the completion of the exercises.
At the same time, the Pentagon said that the United States is monitoring the situation on the border between Ukraine and Russia in connection with reports of “unusual activity” in Moscow. According to the press secretary of the US Department of Defense John Kirby, Washington continues to consult with its partners and allies about Moscow’s military activity. Kirby stressed that he could not talk about Russia’s intentions. At the same time, he noted that the United States continues to monitor the situation in the region and any escalation steps or aggressive actions may cause their concern.
In Ukraine and in Western countries, Russia was previously accused of increasing its military presence on the border with Ukraine. In March of this year, there was another aggravation of the situation in Donbass. Kiev, as well as the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, announced an increase in shelling, reconnaissance activities and the movement of military equipment in the area of the contact line.
Then Ukraine announced that Moscow is significantly increasing its military presence in the region. Moscow replied that it is conducting exercises and moving troops within its territory “where it sees fit.”
Already at the end of April, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu decided to complete the inspection of the troops of the Southern and Western military districts, ordering them to be withdrawn to their permanent deployment points from the Ukrainian borders, which led to a relaxation of the situation. The office of the President of Ukraine called this fact a personal merit of Volodymyr Zelenskyy and pointed to the “unprecedented work” of Kiev in this direction.
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