Information on the Ukraine-Russia border disaster was released on February 16th. Satellite TV for PC photos taken over the previous two days present new street development and a tactical bridge being constructed along a key river in Belarus less than 4 miles from the Ukrainian border, amid what sources say is an ongoing buildup of Russian army forces encircling three sides of Ukraine.
Three sources aware of the matter advised CNN that Western intelligence and army officers are intently monitoring the development as a part of the assistance infrastructure Russia is setting up prematurely for a possible invasion.
Each of the brand new street developments and the bridges along the Pripyat River in southern Belarus are lower than 4 miles from the border and may very well be utilized by Russian forces presently in Belarus in a drive to Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. The satellite TV for PC photos, from Maxar and Planet Labs, present the looks of the pontoon bridge nearly in a single day on Tuesday.
Russia is constructing “bridges, discipline hospitals, all types of assistance infrastructure,” mentioned one source aware of the matter. “Which is why we aren’t actually taking their claims of de-escalation critically.”
It’s unclear whether or not Russian forces or Belarus are setting up the bridge. Belarus is Russia’s closest worldwide ally within the standoff and is presently hosting Russian troops and gear as a part of what Russia insists are “workouts.” Western officers assess that these forces may very well be used to invade Ukraine from the north, specifically if Russia chooses to march on Kyiv.
Whereas no concentrations of armor have been seen close to the bridge, Russian forces have deployed to advance positions some 80 miles to the east — and one convoy was seen on a street, resulting in the world.
—In response to western intelligence assessments, Russian President Vladimir Putin is positioned to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine at any time — though the US nonetheless doesn’t consider he has decided yet.
Russia yesterday issued a lot of conflicting alerts, together with saying that a few of its forces could be pulling back again from the Ukrainian border. However, officers have mentioned publicly that there isn’t a signal of de-escalation on the border, and a number of sources aware of up-to-date intelligence advised CNN that Russia was nonetheless actively transferring forces nearer to the border on Wednesday. Some long-range artillery has been positioned in firing positions, in keeping with a senior western intelligence official and one other supply aware of the matter.
