NATO’s satellites on Thursday unveiled photographs of 40,000 troops near the Ukrainian frontier complete with tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery and aircraft ready for action. According to Gary Deakin, a NATO British Brigadier, the Russian force is indeed “very capable” and “at high readiness.”
Deakin said that once Russia gave the order, the troops near the border could mobilize very quickly into Ukraine. He estimates that it could move in in just 12 hours.
NATO’s satellite photographs showed the Russian forces at 100 different entry sites close to the Ukraine border.
Despite the photographic evidence, Russia denies having sent forces near the border and is accusing NATO of promoting through fabrication support for its organisation.
Russian’s military action and UN-denied annexation of Crimea had forced NATO to drop all its relations and activities with Russia. The annexation had also caused the biggest upset in the relationship of eastern and western countries ever since the “Cold War.”
US Secretary of State John Kerry accused Russian agents of instigating separatist unrest, with Cossacks in Crimea supporting its annexation with Russia. However, Russia denies all accusations.
Accoding to Deakin, the Russian troops had also deployed electronic warfare units, helicopters and aircraft.
