{"id":30430,"date":"2021-11-10T21:51:35","date_gmt":"2021-11-10T21:51:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/11\/10\/russian-troop-movements-show-wider-conflict-is-possible-top-ukraine-official-says\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T06:54:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T06:54:48","slug":"russian-troop-movements-show-wider-conflict-is-possible-top-ukraine-official-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2021\/11\/10\/russian-troop-movements-show-wider-conflict-is-possible-top-ukraine-official-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Russian troop movements show wider conflict is possible, top Ukraine official says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ukrainian officials told Military Times that the gathering of Russian forces, tanks and short-range ballistic missile systems near the two countries\u2019 border could offer the Russians an easy way to escalate an ongoing conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While U.S. military leaders remain reluctant to discuss the massing of Russian forces<\/a>, Ukrainian officials were more direct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll available information indicates that the armed forces of Russia permanently sustain a powerful offensive grouping around Ukraine,\u201d Roman Mashovets, deputy head of Ukraine\u2019s Office of the President for national security and defense, told Military Times Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the second half of 2021, Russian forces<\/a> \u201cconducted a set of large-scale command and staff exercises<\/a> nearby the Ukrainian border,\u201d Mashovets said. But after the completion of the exercises, \u201cunits and subunits that participated in them remain in the European part of Russia, about [160 miles] from the state border with Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This satellite image from Nov. 1, 2021 shows newly deployed military equipment in Yelnya, Russia. (Satellite image \u00a92021 Maxar Technologies)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Of concern, Mashovets said, is that after exercises ended, only personnel returned to their permanent bases. However, combat and other military materiel like tanks, combat vehicles and \u201cIskander\u201d short-range ballistic missile systems have remained near the Ukrainian border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt allows Russian authorities in very short terms to redeploy personnel and to form combat striking groups ready for offensive actions on the territory of Ukraine,\u201d said Mashovets. \u201cThus, if Russia plans to extend aggression, additional redeployment of Russian \u201csubunits to the border of Ukraine will be conducted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The equipment is visible in a series of satellite photos released this month from Maxar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During a Wednesday afternoon press conference, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby described the Russian troop massing \u201cas unusual in size and scope\u201d but declined to expand on that assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe continue to see is unusual military activity inside Russia, but near Ukraine\u2019s borders, and we remain concerned about that,\u201d Kirby said. \u201cAnd it\u2019s not exactly clear what the Russian intentions are. We obviously would like to better understand that. And we don\u2019t want to see any action further destabilize what is already a very tense part of the world. And we urge Russia to be clear about their intentions and to abide by their Minsk agreements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kirby reiterated U.S. support for Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs you heard, [Defense] Secretary [Lloyd] Austin say many times when we were in Europe just a couple of weeks ago, our support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine is unwavering,\u201d Kirby said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Russian embassy did not immediately return a request for comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This satellite image from Nov. 1, 2021 shows a combined arms unit in Yelnya, Russia. (Satellite image \u00a92021 Maxar Technologies)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The gathering of Russian forces near Ukraine, and its continued occupation of Crimea, is more than just a concern for Ukraine, said Mashovets, the Ukrainian president\u2019s deputy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe see that the Russian Federation does not just show military aggression, but wages a full-scale hybrid war against Ukraine and the whole Western society,\u201d said Mashovets. \u201cIt should be understood that by its actions and armed aggression, Russia daily undermines foundations of a democratic world, and Ukraine now not only has a military conflict with the Russian Federation over its territories, but actually acts as a great wall to protect the entire civilized world from the Russian aggression. This seemingly \u2018small problem\u2019 in the center of Europe cannot be ignored.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of Nov. 10, more than 32,000 Russian troops were in Crimea, Mashovets said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All told, about 114,000 Russian troops are near the Ukrainian border and on the occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea, Mashovets said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCurrently, 36 battalion tactical groups are in constant readiness nearby our borders, 31 of which are deployed on a permanent basis. And this has never ceased to concern Ukraine, because in fact our country is in a state of permanent escalation from the Russian Federation side.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each Russian BTG consists of about 300-500 troops, according to a Ukraine military official.<\/p>\n\n\n\t