Satellite images show Russian military build-up near Ukraine borders
New satellite images show Russia has continued to build up its forces in annexed Crimea and near Ukraine in recent weeks — while pressing the United States for talks over security guarantees.
The images, captured by US-based company Maxar Technologies, are pending verification.
The Kremlin has reiterated that it reserves the right to move its own forces on Russian territory as it sees fit and that Western countries are carrying out provocative military manoeuvres near its borders.
US, European and Ukrainian leaders have accused Russia of building up troops again near Ukraine's border since October.
It follows an earlier brief build-up in April, when Maxar also released images.
US President Joe Biden and other world leaders say Russia appears to be considering an attack on Ukraine as soon as next month — something Moscow has repeatedly denied.
The images released showed a base in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, packed with hundreds of armoured vehicles and tanks as of December 13.
A Maxar satellite image of the same base in October showed the base was half empty.
Maxar said a new brigade-level unit had arrived at the Russian garrison.
They comprised several hundred armoured vehicles that included BMP-series infantry fighting vehicles, tanks, self-propelled artillery and air-defence equipment.
In a statement, Maxar said: "Over the past month, our high-resolution satellite imagery has observed a number of new Russian deployments in Crimea as well as in several training areas in western Russia along the periphery of the Ukraine border."
It cited increased activity at three sites in Crimea and at five sites in western Russia, especially in Yelnya and Soloti.
President Vladimir Putin this week said Russia wanted to avoid conflict, but needed an "immediate" response from the US and its allies to its demands for security guarantees.
Moscow has said it expects talks with US officials on the subject to start in January in Geneva.
When asked about the build-up of Russian troops near Ukraine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was acting to defend its own security.
"Russia is moving its own troops around on its own territory against the backdrop of highly unfriendly actions by our opponents in NATO, the United States and various European countries who are carrying out highly unambiguous manoeuvres near our borders," he said.
Mr Biden has threatened strong economic and other measures if Russia invades Ukraine.
This would add to the sanctions already imposed over Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea and its backing for an ongoing separatist rebellion by pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.
A US official has said new retaliatory measures could include tough export controls.
Russia says it wants NATO to halt its eastwards expansion and is seeking guarantees the Western military alliance will not deploy certain offensive weapons to Ukraine and other neighbouring countries.
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