There is an overview of ground forces and equipment.
There are new satellite images of Russian forces near the borders of Ukraine.
Concerns have been raised that Russia may invade its neighbor as early as next year.
If Russia takes military action, the Biden administration has warned of severe consequences.
Satellite photos show a Russian military build up at strategic locations in western Russia near the Ukrainian border and in the peninsula of Crimea, which is under threat from Russia.
The images, obtained from Maxar Technologies, show a number of Russian tactical battle groups, including both personnel and equipment, such as tanks, artillery, and armored troop carriers.
There is an overview of ground forces and equipment.
Tensions de-escalated for a time after snap drills near Ukraine. There was alarm bells ringing when a large number of Russian troops were seen near the Ukrainian border early last month.
State Department and Pentagon officials publicly characterized Russian activity as "unusual" and expressed concern over Russia's lack of transparency about the reasons for the troop increase.
Maxar Technologies has a satellite image of troop tents.
According to a report by the end of November, the US shared concerns about the possibility of an invasion and that Russia was positioning forces for a possible push into Ukraine with allies and partners in Europe.
Jeffrey Edmonds, a former CIA military analyst and Russia expert, told Insider at the time that he would not downplay this. The troop build up is significant.
"I think you always have to assume it's a real possibility," Jim Townsend, a former Pentagon and NATO official and security expert, said.
Michael Kofman, the Research Program Director for the Russia Studies Program at CNA, said he doesn't think there is going to be a Russian military operation in the coming days and weeks.
Russian forces are deployed to a satellite.
According to multiple reports, Biden administration officials revealed late last week that US intelligence indicates Russia could invade early next year with a force as large as 175,000 troops.
A Russian battle group is visible in a satellite image.
One official said that the Russian plans call for a military offensive against Ukraine as early as early 2022, with a scale of forces twice what we saw this past spring.
The administration official said that the plans involve extensive movement of 100 battalion tactical groups with an estimated 175,000 personnel, along with armor, artillery, and equipment.
A second Russian battle group can be seen in a satellite image.
Russia has denied having plans to invade, but it has expressed frustration with NATO activity, the pro-Western leanings of the Ukrainian government, and political obstacles in the country that are contrary to Russian interests.
"I don't accept red lines," President Joe Biden told reporters Friday, adding that the US would probably need to have a lengthy discussion with Putin about Russian activities. The two leaders will talk on Tuesday.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said last week that they don't know if President Putin made the decision to invade. The secretary said that he knows that he is putting in place the capacity to do so in short order.
He warned at the NATO event that Russia could face "severe consequences" if it invaded.
Biden said last Friday that he was putting together the most comprehensive and meaningful set of initiatives to make it difficult for Putin to do what people are worried he may do.
Business Insider has an original article.
