Latest satellite images show massive Russian military buildup near Ukraine
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New Delhi: Amid fears that Russia may launch attack on its ex-Soviet neighbour, the new satellite images of Russian deployment around Ukraine's borders show increased military activity in the past 48 hours.
Russia, which has repeatedly denied plans to invade, is holding large military exercises in ex-Soviet Belarus, part of a dramatic buildup of forces to the north, east and south of Ukraine.
According to U.S.-based Maxar Technologies, which has been tracking the buildup of Russian forces for weeks, the images taken on Sunday and Monday captured significant new activity.
Maxar's high-resolution satellite images show the arrival of several large contingents of troops and attack helicopters.
The images also show the deployment of ground attack aircraft and fighter-bomb jets at forward locations.
Multiple ground force units have left existing garrisons and can be seen in a convoy formation with other combat units.
The areas where Russia has increased its forces are mostly located in the North and northeast of Ukraine. It also includes a large airbase to the Southeast of Ukraine and in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
On February 10, a large number of troops and equipment were seen at Crimea's Oktyabrskoye airfield.
Efforts to defuse the crisis in Ukraine via a frenzy of telephone diplomacy have so far failed to ease tensions, with US President Joe Biden warning that Russia faces "swift and severe costs" if its troops proceed with an invasion. Several European countries are still in talks with Moscow, making diplomatic efforts to defuse tension.
Western leaders consider the Russian troop build-up to be the worst threat to the continent's security since the Cold War and have prepared a crippling package of economic sanctions in response to any attack on Ukraine -- although Moscow has repeatedly said it has no such plans.
In recent weeks, Ukraine has received planeloads of military aid from NATO country allies to shore up its defences. On Sunday, Ukraine received its first shipment of Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.