What kind of combat preparations has Russia made when the army suppresses Ukraine?
Russia has deployed about 130,000 soldiers in the area close to the Ukrainian border, equipped with everything from tanks and guns to medical facilities. This included 30,000 troops participating in military exercises in Belarus (Belarus).
U.S. officials say Russia is equipped with enough troops to invade Ukraine "at any time." Russia has denied planning any attack.
On Tuesday (February 15), Moscow announced that some of its troops deployed in nearby Ukraine had been withdrawn.
Russia's defense ministry said in a statement that while large-scale drills are still underway, some troops from the southern and western military districts have completed the exercises and are returning to their stations.
Different reports indicate that the support forces necessary for the invasion of Ukraine have recently been stationed in the strongholds along with the combat forces. This is believed to include tank repair garages and defounding equipment. Field hospitals with adequate blood supplies have also been deployed in some areas.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday that field hospitals "could only be built in preparation for a war invasion".
Many experts believe that a full-scale Russian invasion and a full or mostly occupation of Ukraine would require more troops than Russia currently has.
According to Russia's Interfax news agency, on Monday (14th), a senior russian military general said that Russia was ready to open fire on foreign ships and submarines that illegally invaded its territorial waters. Moscow also issued a navigational circular warning that missile and shell firing drills were underway in the Black Sea.
