American intelligence officials think that Russia is preparing for a large-scale military offensive in Ukraine in early 2022, with 175,000 troops.
An Ukrainian serviceman patrols in the village of Shyrokyne near Mariupol, the last large city in eastern Ukraine.
The images are from the same source.
An administration official told Forbes that the United States believes Russia will have around 175,000 personnel, as well as armor and artillery, for the offensive.
The official said that half the number of troops are already positioned near the Ukraine-Russia border, following a recent build up that has caused some Ukrainian officials to warn of a Russian invasion of the former Soviet republic.
The administration official said that Russia was assembling a large reserve corps as part of its preparation.
CNN reported Friday that Russia has enough medical units, fuel, and other supplies to support frontline forces for a week or more.
Forbes contacted the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. for comment.
Russia has sought to amplify anti-Ukraine and anti-NATO content via Russian influence proxies and media outlets, a US official told Forbes.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters earlier this week that it was unclear if Russian President Vladimir Putin had decided to invade Ukraine yet, but that he was putting in place the capacity to do so on short order.
The key background.
The relationship between Russia and Ukraine has been tense. The year saw the ousting of a Russia-friendly president, Russia's invasion of the Crimean Peninsula and the start of a conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels. Russia has sought to prevent the country from entering Western Europe's sphere of influence, as a result of Ukraine's on-and-off push to join NATO. Some officials say the current troop build up on the Russia-Ukraine border is more significant than other recent flare-ups.
Chief critic.
Russia was warned not to mount an invasion of Ukraine. The United States and its allies are prepared to impose significant costs if Russia escalates, according to a statement from the State Department. The U.S. may impose economic consequences, according to Tony Blinken. The Department of Defense and the National Security Council are concerned by the fact that Russia has made plans for aggressive actions against Ukraine.
There was aContra.
Russia denied that it was preparing a military offensive. The country's internal troop movements shouldn't be a cause for anyone's concern, and Putin said in a mid-November interview that any fears of an invasion are "alarmist." The Associated Press reports that this week, Peskov claimed Russia is concerned about Ukrainian troop movements near its border, and that Putin wants the US and allies to rule out any further NATO moves eastward.
Russia is planning a massive military offensive against Ukraine.
Putin wants guarantees over Ukraine from Biden.
