Russia plotting to take over Ukraine, the Ukrainian President announced today. This announcement came amid rising tensions due to the presence of thousands Russian soldiers at the border.
Volodymyr Zilenskiy said at a news conference, ‘We face challenges from not only the Russian Federation and possible escalated – but also internal challenges. According to information I have received, a coup-d’etat is expected in my country on the 2nd and 3rd of December.
He said that the troops of his country were fully in control of its borders, and that they are ready to face any Russian escalation.
Nearly 94,000 Russian troops were sent to the Ukrainian frontier, while the White House warned Europe about an invasion which would be even more devastating than the 2014 annexation.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, President of Ukraine, attends a briefing after the Ukraine-EU Summit in Kiev (Ukraine October 12, 2021).
Vladimir Putin watches the Russian and Belarusian armed forces in the Nizhny Novgorod area, Russia. This is Sept. 13-2021.
Below is an illustration of how Ukrainian intelligence prepares for a violent and vicious invasion. The attack would surpass the 2014 annexation.
The Ukrainian foreign minister told Russia Thursday that an attack upon his country would result in “political and economic losses” and be very costly.
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, stated that they aren’t trying to figure out what’s in Putin’s head.
“We are trying to get him to understand that a new attack against Ukraine would be costly so we prefer to not do it.”
According to him, Kiev was primarily trying to stop Russia’s ‘further aggressive acts’.
Kuleba stated that Moscow should be able to clearly see the political, economic, and human consequences of any new aggression.
According to the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, this weekend’s Military Times outlet reported that Russia has more than 94,000 troops positioned around Ukraine’s border and is preparing for an attack at the beginning or end of February.
Ukraine wants to be a NATO member. The United States sent a huge consignment earlier this year of U.S. ammunition, Javelin missiles, and other weapons. Moscow was critical.
As part of the $2.5 billion assistance package to Ukraine, two re-equipped former U.S. Coast Guard Patrol boats were delivered Tuesday to Ukraine’s navy. Kuleba indicated that Ukraine might receive one more of the vessels.
In 2014, Ukraine lost its ties to Russia after Moscow gave support for separatists rising up in Ukraine. They took back territory Kiev wanted.
Kiev estimates that around 14,000 have been killed by fighting in Ukraine since the beginning of this conflict.
On Wednesday, a Ukrainian soldier marches along the trench of the frontline against Russia-backed separatists, near Talakivka in Donetsk.
An Ukrainian soldier inspects a spyglass as he looks at the position of the Russian-backed separatists on the frontline near Talakivka in Donetsk.
An unidentified soldier from Ukraine looks out of his dugout at the frontline against Russia-backed separatists
Russia is not abandoning talks with France and Germany about how to make a deal for eastern Ukraine’s peace, Maria Zakharova (a spokeswoman from the foreign ministry) said Thursday.
The U.S. and European allies shared maps showing how the Russian army could be able to build up, allowing Putin to launch an invasion.
This intelligence presents a scenario that would allow for three types of attack.
Troops would cross into Ukraine from Crimea, the Russian border and Belarus, with about 100 battalion tactical groups – up to 100,000 soldiers in all.
Two sources said half the tactical groups was already in position and that any invasion would be backed by air support.
This move would be dwarfed by the 2014 annexed Crimea.
Two sources claimed that Moscow had summoned tens to thousands of reservists for the largest mobilization in Soviet history. They would protect territory that was taken by tactical battalions.
A plane takes off during the military drills by the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces (Zhytomyr Region), Ukraine, November 21st 2021
Tanks belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces can be seen at drills in an unidentified location close to the Russian-annexed Crimea.
Moscow dismissed these reports as propaganda to hide Ukraine’s aggressive intentions.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, said that movements of Russian troops should not be a concern.
Instead, he reversed the roles and made Ukraine the aggressor.
According to the Associated Press, he stated that the number of provocations has increased and they were conducted with the weapons NATO sent to Ukraine.
“We have grave concerns about this incident.”
However, U.S. officials claim they have a similar playbook.
“Our concern is Russia might make the serious mistake of trying to rehash its actions back in 2014. It amassed forces at the border and crossed into sovereign Ukrainian territory, claiming it was provoked,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated last week.
The defense ministry of Ukraine announced that it held an airborne force drill near the capital Kiev.
Jen Psaki stated that he continues to be concerned about Russian military actions and its harsh rhetoric towards Ukraine. He called on Moscow to reduce tensions.
According to the ministry, drills were used for the simulation of landing airborne troops or armoured personnel carriers in order to attack an enemy target. They released footage that showed troops being landed by aircraft and helicopters.
The Ukrainian navy conducted drills last week near Russian-annexed Crimea.
Ukraine’s new defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, said during a trip to Washington last week that Putin was ‘playing chess’ with the West but it remained unclear what his intentions were.
Lloyd Austin, US defense secretary, said Wednesday that they were unsure what Vladimir Putin was up to.
Meanwhile Democratic and Republican lawmakers have added amendments to the draft 2022 National Defense Authorization Act that would address Russia’s latest provocations
A Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Menendez’s amendment was seen by CNN and called for “substantial” new sanctions against senior Kremlin officials (including Putin) in case of Russian aggression towards Ukraine.