RIA Novosti/Andrei Aleksandrov
Russia Troop Increase At Ukraine Border Raises Concerns -- CNN
Donetsk, Ukraine (CNN) -- A new buildup of Russian troops along the Ukraine border raised concerns Tuesday that Moscow might be contemplating another intervention like the one that annexed Crimea earlier this year.
According to a NATO official, Russia now has about 20,000 troops stationed "in an area along the entire border with eastern Ukraine." The buildup nearly doubled the troop deployment in the last week by adding 8,000 more forces to 12,000 already there, the official said.
It comes a week after the United States and the European Union increased economic sanctions on Russia for supporting pro-Russian separatists fighting Ukraine government forces in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, along the border with Russia.
Read more ....
More News On Reports That Russia Has Doubled It's Military Forces On The Border Of Ukraine In The Past Week
NATO Claims Russia Gathered 20,000 Troops on Ukraine Border -- RIA Novosti
Buildup Makes Russia Battle-Ready for Ukraine -- New York Times
U.S. 'deeply concerned' about Russian military exercise -- L.A. Times
Russia Again Boosts Troop Levels on Ukraine Border -- VOA
Russia troops build up on Ukraine border -- Financial Times
Russian troop buildup at Ukrainian border -- UPI
Russia to hold war games in show of strength near Ukraine -- Reuters
Russia gets battle-ready -- The Daily Star
Russia Launches Military Exercises In Central, Western Regions -- Radio Free Europe
My Comment: One of my sources in Russia has told me that the Russian troop buildup on the Ukraine border will continue for the next few days. U.S. concerns that Russia may launch attacks are rising .... US officials warn Russian troops could move quickly against Ukraine, report says (FOX News). Ukrainian officials are now boasting that a major offensive will soon be underway .... Ukrainian Military Getting Ready to Storm Donetsk, Luhansk - Kiev Official (RIA Novosti). Russia's official response has been cryptic and blunt .... Moscow confirms intention to secure humanitarian mission for southeast Ukraine (Kyiv Post).
Just a gut feeling .... I have no evidence on what is going to happen next .... but for the first time since the Ukraine civil war started .... I cannot help but feel that a major and public military clash between Russia and Ukraine is about to unfold.
6 comments:
In my own amatuer analysis, I have wondered if Moscow was playing a little game of Maskirovka. Move the troops away temporarily, lure the Kiev army East into a difficult attack on Donetsk/Lugansk, and then launch an operation like Uranus to encircle the Kiev forces while they are heavily engaged in the cities. Call it the Stalingrad playbook, if you will. Can the Kiev Ukrainians not see it coming?
I have little ideal what Moscow will do besides bleed Ukraine over time with their proxy. Beyond that will they come over the border? I don't know. All I have is OSI.
I do know if they come over the border, Obama will be so miffed for taking the Israel-Hamas conflict off the front page when a ceasefire held(?).
If I were Putin, I would watch out.
1.
Looks like its time for a Russian invation. Dosent suprise me since its to much at stake. wonder if Putin will only take over Donetsk and Lugansk regions or will he take more of Ukraine?
2.
Will Kiev drop the storming of Lugansk and Donetsk or will they continue reglardless a threat for an invation?
3.
Will NATO tolerate a Russian invation or is it a risk for a military counter operaiton?
4.
What will happen with the passanger air plane wrec if Russia invades, will the international team get killed or taken hostages? Will this lead to increased risk of NATIO intervention?
1) If Russian forces enter Ukraine .... I suspect that with a force of about 20,000 men (or less) they will only consolidate the Donetsk and Lugansk regions .... and only certain locations (choke-points, bridges, airports, etc.).
2) Kiev is determined to storm the city of Donetsk with tanks right now .... and with Russian forces building up on the border Ukrainian military forces may move even quicker before Russia is in a position to do anything.
3) NATO will not intervene, and as for the international team at they crash sight .... being with them is probably the safest place to be in eastern Ukraine right now.
This on the US recon aircraft going to Sweden recently:
http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2014/08/more-to-story.html
Thank you for the link James. This is a story that deserves an update.
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