Russian troops told to ‘prepare for war’ and mass within Kiev’s strike range as fears of invasion of Ukraine grow

ALARM New evidence emerged today of a large number of troops and military hardware on Ukraine’s northern border – within striking distances of the capital Kiev.

Families of service members hope they will be involved in a protracted war after being told they could be away from home for nine months.

7

7

7

Forces are now in Belarus, less than 20 miles from the Ukrainian border, following an increase in troop and equipment transfers in recent days from Russia’s far east.

New video shows paratrooper invasion drills ahead of hastily arranged “joint exercises” with Putin’s Belarusian ally.

According to an analysis by DFRLab, trains carrying missile launchers, armored vehicles and communication trucks were discovered near the Belarusian towns of Gomel and Rechitsa.

Another study by Freedom Radio and the Conflict Intelligence Group reported that military police – essential in an invasion – were among the forces deployed near Ukraine.

Russia said today that the drills were a response to the military build-up in Poland and Lithuania, bordering Ukraine.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: “We share the concerns of our Belarusian allies about the building of NATO’s military presence along the external borders of Belarus..

“In this regard, Russia and Belarus are forced to respond in a satisfactory manner, including through joint air patrols, regular joint training, exercises, etc.”

Observers see it as a smokescreen in preparation for an invasion that the West now hopes is imminent.

UK warns war could be “a few more days” and has send anti-tank missiles – together with instructors – to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses.

Yesterday, the US authorized NATO allies Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia to send US-made anti-armor missiles to Ukraine to help fend off an invasion.

The Pentagon is also preparing to send an additional $200 million in weapons, ammunition and equipment in the coming days.

President Joe Biden said of Vladimir Putin: “I guess he’s moving in. He’s got to do something.”

But he added: “I think he will regret doing it.

“That decision is purely a Putin decision. He’s making that decision. I suspect it’s important which side he sleeps on in the morning and what exactly he’s going to do.”

The concentration of troops in Belarus has added massive Russian forces – estimated at 100,000 – to the east of UKraine as well as to the south in Crimea and the Black Sea.

‘CRIMEA PLAYBOOK’

New analyzes show that only a fraction of military equipment and soldiers arriving at the training grounds have been notified for the exercises.

“The rest stopped midway, near Gomel, in an area just 40 kilometers (25 mi) from the Chernihiv region of Ukraine and 90 kilometers (56 mi) from the Kiev region,” Radio Liberty reports.

Comments on Russian social media show that “many mothers and wives of servicemen are worried about the fate of their loved ones.

“Dozens of people writing about sending their loved ones to the West make no secret of the fact that they fear the outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine.”

This is seen as a repeat of Russia’s books from 2014 when Putin annexed Crimea and backed pro-Russian rebels in Donbas, eastern Ukraine.

The report said social media comments indicated that forces from Russia’s far east had been sent “first to Moscow, then to Ukraine”.

The girlfriend of a member of the 155th Marine brigade directly told the researchers that he was being sent “to Ukraine”.

In Gomel, a Russian convoy consisting of a BM-27 220mm rocket launcher and 11 9T452 transport-trucks arrived from eastern Siberia on Monday.

A video later shows a launcher and transport vehicle “directed to the Ukrainian border, just 30 kilometers (19 miles) away.

“The BM-27 multiple rocket launcher has a maximum range of 90 kilometers (56 miles).”

The report continued: “Other local reports suggest that the military equipment came from Gomel in the direction of Khoyniki, bordering Ukraine, and 150 km (93 mi) north of Kiev.

“This column seems to consist mainly of logistics vehicles, such as fuel trucks and other transport vehicles. It was followed by a civilian truck and a bus.”

BM-27 launchers were also seen at the station in Rechitsa.

Trains seen in western Russia in the Smolensk region – apparently en route to Belarus – appear to show the 16th Chemical, Biological and Radiation Defense Brigade from Primorsky Krai, which has traveled some 5,800 miles from its base.

“Information received by Radio Free and the Conflict Intelligence Group indicates that in recent months units have been moved from the Far East to the West (to Russia or Belarus), without which it would be difficult to envision a full-fledged military operation: the army. police, paratroopers, special forces,” the report added.

“These soldiers also took part in the active phase of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict of 2014-2015.”

‘START DOWN LIKE VIETNAM’

While the Russian-Belarusian joint exercises officially took place from February 10 to 20, “relatives and friends of the military wrote that the trip would last from 6 to 9 months.”

It took place after experts warned Russia could mistaken for a “new Vietnam” when it got mired in a bloody guerrilla war.

Experts say Putin will aim for Kiev as quickly as possible and install a Kremlin-friendly government.

But the military will face a “kill zone”, sabotage and fierce resistance by guerilla fighters backed by the CIA and US special forces, it is claimed.

Former US assistant secretary of defense Lawrence Korb said proud Ukrainians were ready to launch a bloody uprising against the occupying Russians.

“It is very likely that[Russia’s]efforts will play out similar to the experiences of the United States in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said.

Colonel Richard Kemp, a defense analyst, told The Sun: “If Russian forces take Ukraine, then they need to pay for that, but that won’t come from Nato forces coming in and eliminating them. .

“The only option the Ukrainian people have to defend their sovereignty is that kind of war. That will cost both sides with their lives.”

In another development, the French navy is said to have escorted Russian landing ships towards the English Channel yesterday.

Three warships of the Baltic Fleet and four of the Northern Fleet are believed to be sailing to the Black Sea, south of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russian state TV has aired accusations from a rebel leader in the breakaway Donetsk region that British instructors are training Ukrainian special forces in sabotage operations against provoked Moscow to send their forces.

Eduard Basurin claimed the attacks would target “water pipelines, gas pipelines, electrical substations, transformers and then a terrorist attack on a chemical plant”.

7

7

7

7