Satellite images provided to BuzzFeed News and a slew of social media videos show that new Russian troops and heavy artillery were moved to strategic locations right around Biden and Putin’s virtual summit.

KYIV — Tanks and other menacing self-propelled artillery. A Russian Buk surface-to-air missile system like the one that shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014. Thousands more troops.

Those are merely some of the Russian forces and matériel seen in videos posted to social media heading toward the Ukrainian border in the past week alone. Western and Ukrainian intelligence agencies estimate roughly 100,000 troops, along with fighter aircraft and ballistic missiles, are already in place. That number could increase to 175,000 soldiers, the agencies say.

These deployments, partnered with verbal threats and war games happening within striking distance of Ukraine, don’t bode well for peace in Eastern Europe. They are ominous signs that Russia may be preparing to launch another large-scale, multifront invasion to wrest back control of the former Soviet republic that has moved increasingly further from Moscow’s orbit — and toward the Western democratic world — since gaining independence 30 years ago.

An invasion, experts warn, could explode into the biggest and bloodiest war in Europe since World War II. But Russian President Vladimir Putin’s dangerous brinkmanship alone also threatens to drag the US and its allies in Western Europe, as well as NATO, deeper into the nearly eight-year-long war in Ukraine that has already killed more than 14,000 people. The Russian leader said he wants NATO to scratch its 2008 promise to Ukraine of future membership.

Recent satellite images provided to BuzzFeed News by Maxar Technologies and analyzed by military experts show what appear to be some of these new forces at strategic locations in Soloti, southwestern Russia, about 30 miles from the Ukrainian border, and in Opuk, southern Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Moscow forcibly seized from Kyiv in 2014.

This weekend, Russia’s military held live-fire tank exercises with 1,500 soldiers in those areas and others nearby. The Russian Federal Security Service, the FSB, intercepted a Ukrainian navy vessel in the Sea of Azov that it claimed was carrying out a “provocation.” And Putin, the Kremlin, and the country’s state-run media pumped out more bellicose rhetoric.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters this week that Putin hasn’t made a decision as to whether he will launch another large-scale invasion of Ukraine. But US intelligence and military analysts warn that he has plenty of Russian forces in place if he should decide to do so.

“There isn’t any indication that Russia is moving forces away from Ukraine, but there is evidence that Russia is continuing to send more ground forces near the border,” Rob Lee, a Russian military expert and PhD candidate at the King’s College London War Studies Department, told BuzzFeed News. “I would expect this means Russia will retain an enhanced military posture near Ukraine for the foreseeable future … even if they don’t escalate in Ukraine.”

Konrad Muzyka, a defense analyst focused on Russia and Belarus, analyzed the Maxar Technologies images for BuzzFeed News. He said that Russia had created a new regiment within its 3rd Motor Rifle Division and that group likely accounted for much of the increase of troops and equipment in Soloti seen in the satellite images between Sept. 7 and Dec. 5. That was two days before President Joe Biden’s call with Putin.

“The regiment is based on BMP-3Ms [Russian infantry fighting vehicles] that were withdrawn from the 22nd Central Reserve and Maintenance Tank Base in Buy in mid-November,” he said, referencing the city northwest of Moscow where they came from. “The same facility delivered BMP-3Ms to a new motor rifle regiment in Kaliningrad’s 18th Motor Rifle Division. Altogether, between mid-November and early December, some 200 new vehicles appeared in Soloti, although probably not all of them came from Buy.”

Maxar Senior Director Stephen Wood told BuzzFeed News that some of the recent increase in vehicles seen in the Dec. 5 image could represent military units that returned following their participation in the large ground-forces exercise Russia held in the fall.

In Opuk, Muzyka said, it’s harder to know what is indicated in the satellite images taken on Nov. 27. “The last couple of months, there has been a lot of movement into and out of Crimea. It is done possibly to obfuscate the scale of Russian forces there.”

Wood said this was “one of the areas where the Russian military had a large deployment of forces and equipment back in April.” Most of the equipment and troops had departed the training area by the early summer, according to Wood, but “this set of equipment seen on the Nov. 26 image represents new equipment to the area as of late November.”

Muzyka noticed one worrying element in those images: markers where several tents housing military equipment used to stand. Their being in place meant there was no need for them to be deployed beyond the base.

“To me, withdrawal of equipment from storage to create a new unit is an indicator that Russia is preparing for a conflict,” he said.

In a high-stakes diplomatic push to avert a fresh attack, Biden told Putin in a virtual summit Tuesday that he would face serious consequences should he further invade Ukraine.

“I made it absolutely clear to President Putin … that if he moves on Ukraine, the economic consequences for his economy are going to be devastating, devastating,” Biden said of their discussion Friday.

The Biden administration has said it’s considering several options to deter Russia’s aggressive behavior and potentially a new invasion of Ukraine. It has said it may send more military aid to Kyiv, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, and it has floated the idea of sending air-defense systems. And Biden himself has said he's prepared to impose tough new sanctions against Russia — although just how tough remains to be seen.

“What the president made very clear to President Putin, what I’ve made very clear to Foreign Minister Lavrov, my counterpart, is that we are looking at and we are prepared to take the kinds of steps we’ve refrained from taking in the past that would have massive consequences for Russia,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.

Speaking from a meeting with top diplomats from the Group of Seven nations, Blinken said his counterparts “are equally resolute in their determination to stand against Russian aggression, to ideally deter it, prevent it.”

Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday. The two talked about ways to try to break the diplomatic logjam with Russia when it comes to the stalemated peace deal known as the Minsk accords.

The Ukrainian leader also encouraged Biden to be proactive with sanctions and security aid, arguing that putting them in place and sending help now could stave off an attack, a Zelensky adviser with knowledge of the call told BuzzFeed News.

In a sign that the situation might get worse before it gets better, as Biden and Zelensky spoke, Putin told Russian media that the Ukrainian military’s actions in eastern Ukraine were “Russophobic” and “resemble genocide.” In a Sunday-evening interview program on Russian state television, Putin lamented the breakup of the USSR, according to Reuters, saying it led to the end of “historical Russia.”

Anthony Blinken? lol

NBC? lmao.

BUZZ FEED????? LMAO

I think this was claim of Russian troops on the border, ready to invade Ukraine, has been debunked though.

Srs.

This is 100% NATO's fault. All they had to do was exist, instead they tried to grow and were warned to stay in their own lane.

Now Russia has to act before they are encroached upon further.

Putin is just doing this to get all sanctions removed.

Biden’s silence is violence.

He’s an agent of Russia

Putin’s puppet

Thanks Drumpf!

Why is Ukraine worried about 100k people on their border, that's free votes like how the usa gets monthly from the southern border?

wanna see those images

Russia isn't going to invade Ukraine.

When they don't we get to hear about how tough Biden was and how it was him who prevented it. Russia doesn't want to start a potentially massive war and risk NATO or others getting involved. They're flexing.

they wont get involved though, thats why Crimea was a successful reclamation a few years ago

Putin knows the worse pussy biden will do is order delivery of some weapons, which will probably end up in the Russians hands judging by how Afghanistan was handled, then biden will chit himself and have his butt wiped

Sounds like either a bunch of conscripts to pad the numbers or a not-insignificant portion of Russia's "real" fighting force is concentrated there, or the Russian military is in much better shape than I thought.

Dont they want to join NATO, and once a permanent base gets built there, it doesnt go away? Like the majority of countries that used to be part of the warsaw pact are now NATO and encircling Russia.

I can't believe Ukraine put their border so close to Russia. They should've known better.

All the more reason for Russia to invade.

Shutting this down.

The extreme negativity, mysogany, hate, and pure idiocy a lot of you "men" post here daily truly makes me cringe Irl.

The reality here is: OP found a woman he loves and wanted to marry. Did it in an unconventional venue, and was a success. Good for him! Don't be such a negative ******* for the sake of beig a dick...

The insane amount of comments degrading women also has to stop. I'll begin mass banning for those comments when I see them. So knock it off.

OP has more life experience than the vast majority of the misc, with the average age being around 22, and knows his relationship better than anyone here. Who the fuk are you to tear him down? Get a life. Truly.


OP. I wish you the best of luck. It sounds like you've found a winner.

Russia was the best man

At this point if Russia marauded across europe and took out a few globalist elites and regime changed a few of these pozzed chit holes in europe im not convinced it would be all bad.


Of course the globalist elites would scatter like cockroaches in their private jets ahead of the tanks though.




Globohomo is a far bigger stain on the planet than putin's Russia.

This

Imagine if this was Russia in Cuba…


We cant be hypocrites

the usa seems to be concerned with 100k people on some other country's border across the ocean but not the 100s of k on their southern border hmmm...

in serious news,




NATO will not compromise on the right of states to join - Stoltenberg
12/16/2021 2:01 PM
NATO's open door policy is governed by Article 10 of NATO's founding Washington Treaty, so the Alliance does not compromise on European countries' right to seek membership.
This was stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during a press conference following a meeting with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in Brussels, a Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"We stand in solidarity with Ukraine and continue to support its efforts to become a member of NATO. We are also sending a very clear message of readiness to talk to Russia, because dialogue is especially important in difficult times, as it is now. We reaffirm our invitation to Moscow to meet in the format of the NATO-Russia Council and are ready to sit down at the negotiating table. But we will never compromise on the right of any sovereign state, such as Ukraine, to choose its own path, on the principle that only Ukraine and 30 allies can decide when Ukraine is ready to join the Alliance, "Stoltenberg said.

He noted that in recent years, NATO has demonstrated its commitment to an open door policy, not only in words but also in deeds, including by inviting new countries, Montenegro and Northern Macedonia, which have already become new allies, despite Russian objections.

The Secretary General recalled that he had been present in person at the 2008 NATO Summit in Bucharest. All allies then agreed that Ukraine would become a member of NATO. According to him, the Alliance adheres to the decision, which was confirmed in the period after the Bucharest Summit.

"It is important for Ukraine now to focus on reforms to meet NATO standards. I welcome President Zelensky's strong commitment to reform. I also know that whenever Ukrainian and NATO troops work together - whether in Afghanistan, Iraq or anywhere - it is important in the fight against international terrorism, but it is also a way to increase and strengthen interoperability between NATO and Ukraine, "said the Alliance leader.

"We support Ukraine in its efforts to move closer to NATO membership. We help in the implementation of reforms, in the fight against corruption, in capacity building, in the modernization of security and defense structures of Ukraine. NATO and NATO Allies also provide training and advisory assistance, we conduct joint exercises, and NATO Allies also provide the necessary equipment. So, we support Ukraine, we strengthen Ukraine's defense and its Armed Forces. This is practical cooperation and practical support provided by the Allies and the entire Alliance for Ukraine, "Stoltenberg added.

As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky is paying a two-day visit to Brussels. Yesterday, the head of state took part in the Eastern Partnership summit and held a series of bilateral meetings with European leaders and heads of European institutions. Today, the Ukrainian delegation held talks at NATO Headquarters , during which, in particular, the situation regarding the concentration of Russian troops in the occupied territories of Ukraine and along its borders was discussed.




prior to this, Putin, FM Ryabkov issued ultimatums in the past week -


Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov: If NATO and the United States do not respond to Russia's demand for security guarantees, a military response will follow, there will be a new round of confrontation- RIA

Russia has given the West/NATO an ultimatum & an Undisclosed date by which all demands pertaining to Ukraine should be met, if not a military option will be followed through by Russia - Ukraine's Kyiv has begun organizing civil defense/drills as well as recruiting reservists.

more

NATO Signals Support for Ukraine in Face of Threat From Russia
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/16/w...to-russia.html
Dec. 16, 2021
Updated 4:45 p.m. ET
[long article]
...



NATO rejected Russia's demands for talks over intermediate-range missiles.

NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg: "We had a ban, and they violated that ban [...] it is not credible when they now propose a ban on something they actually have already started to deploy."


...


relevant threads with lots info for people who GLP

THREAD: Russia Issues Ultimatum with Undisclosed Date - NATO Tells Putin to Go To Hell
https://www.godlikeproductions.com/f...age4981671/pg1

THREAD: WW3 Is Imminent For Real *Please read*
https://www.godlikeproductions.com/f...age4983399/pg1

^Idk, if I heard the news today correctly, said 175k troop buildup, but other day it said 175k after January. That's a lot stationed there just to boast?

“Y.. y… yo… you.. you… can open another pipeline Mr Putin, we’ll shut another of ours down too… so so sorry Mr Putin, won’t happen again. Hopefully I got your pronouns correct, no offense intended sir… mam… it… yea, bye now.”

As a Russian, this is the dumbest **** I've heard. Russia isn't going to invade Ukraine and bring all the condemnation and sanctions from across the world, and for what? Russia has already taken everything it needs from Ukraine, Crimea already belongs to Russia. Ukraine can't join NATO regardless so why would Russia get all this headache just for a regime change? For Russia it's a slow game, starve Ukraine until they learn their lesson, people will get fed up and get cozy with Russia again, it's a no brainer.
Joe Biden is an old kunt, he's using his Cold War playbook and using Russia as a boogeyman to take attention away from his domestic problems. Most of Russia's troops and armory are on the eastern front, it gets moved around all the time, no one is invading Ukraine lol, that's is literally the dumbest idea. This isn't 20th Century. Ukraine has nothing, it's half destroyed, bad economy, it's poor, corrupt and unstable. You think anyone is risking millions of lives for that?

Come on sooonnnnn

Has anyone taken away the nuclear codes from Biden yet?

Militarily speaking, how strong are Ukraine's armed forces?

I hope these theories about a possible Russian invasion are just junk.

In a total war scenario Russia would beat them in the long run I think. From what I recall the US has given ukraine advanced weapons, but they're only to be used if Russia pushes far enough into Ukraine proper. It would be a bloody war. Ukrainian special forces showed during the War in Donbass that they're very formidable.

Ukrainians also seem like a prideful people too, many of which hate Russia. I imagine a Russian occupancy would face a lot of guerilla style attacks

I don't even know what's the beef stroganoff between the two. You can't even tell the difference between a Russian and a Ukrainian.