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New satellite images obtained by German press have shed new light on Russia’s concerning military build-up on the Ukraine border.
The territorial dispute has once again come to a head after over seven years of conflict, with footage of Russia amassing tanks on surrounding highways dominating world news in recent weeks.
Russian military analysts have already warned global powers the situation could “devolve into a world war” if Vladimir Putin’s latest land-grab on the Ukraine’s south eastern region prompts world leaders to retaliate with force.
The new satellite release pictures a large Russian military camp 30km from Marfivka in east Crimea. German newspaper Der Spiegel reports the camp is located just 280km from Ukrainian territories, and housing portions of Russia’s 58th army.
Ruslan Leviev, an open source analyst with Conflict Intelligence Team, described the build-up as “the greatest concentration of Russian armed forces since 2014 and 2015”. The new information comes barely a fortnight after “unprecedented” Russian military presence was spotted in the Arctic.
Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu admitted to mobilising the nation’s forces last week, but insisted it was simply a precautionary measure in response to recent military mobilisation from NATO near Russia’s Polish border.
“The troops have shown their full readiness to fulfil tasks to ensure the country‘s security,” he said, describing the recent events as a “threat” to Russia.
Russian media has remained highly critical of intervention from the west throughout the conflict. Editor-in-chief of state-backed news network RT, Margarita Simonyan, described war with Ukraine as “inevitable”, claiming Russia could defeat its neighbour in two days “in conventional war”.
“I dearly hope that it will cost only a little blood, or that it will be bloodless like with Crimea – but this is a medical fact that it is inevitable,” she said.
“In conventional war, we could defeat Ukraine in two days, but it will be another kind of war. We’ll do it, and then (the US) will respond by turning off power to (the Russian city) Voronezh.”
The UK is now getting prepared to send two navy ships to the Black Sea in solidarity with Ukraine in May, despite recent tensions between the US and Russia over naval territory.
One Type 45 destroyer armed with anti-aircraft missiles and an anti-submarine Type 23 frigate will leave the Royal Navy‘s carrier task group in the Mediterranean, The Sunday Times reported this morning.
However, Moscow has now moved to close of parts of the Kerch Strait separating Crimea and Russia after US President Joe Biden threatened to send two navy battleships to the region before calling them off.
The Kremlin had previously warned the US to steer clear of the region “for their own good”, describing their threatened naval deployment in the Black Sea as a provocation.
Analysts on high-alert say the recent game of military musical chairs has fogged predictions on what might just happen next. Speaking to the Rosbalt news organisation in Russia earlier this month, defence analyst Pavel Felgenhauer said the unpredictability of the nation’s latest military push was cause for extra concern.
“The crisis has the potential to escalate into a pan-European war, if not even a world one,” Mr Felgenhauer said. “For now, it’s just potential. Will it happen or not? Let’s wait and see. In the West, they don’t know what to do about it.”
Even the Pope had words of advice on the developing crisis, calling for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis, which has claimed the lives of over 3300 people with up to 31,000 estimated wounded.
“I am following with deep concern the events in several areas of eastern Ukraine, where in recent months violations of the ceasefire have multiplied, and I observe with great apprehension the increase of military activities,” Pope Francis told several hundred people gathered in Saint Peter‘s Square.
“I firmly hope that the increase of tensions may be avoided and, on the contrary, gestures may be made that are capable of promoting mutual trust and fostering reconciliation and peace, so necessary and so desired.”
Adding to the list of foreign affairs woes, the US is currently involved in another dispute with Moscow over the imprisonment of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who experts warn “could die any minute” after refusing food in protest.
EU foreign ministers are set to meet virtually on Monday for talks on the health of the political dissident, with the United States warning Moscow of consequences if he dies in prison.
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