The Russian Defense Ministry announced the completion of military exercises on the border with Ukraine. “More than 10 thousand servicemen as part of subunits will march in groups of permanent deployment from the territory of combined arms training grounds,” the press release of the RF Ministry of Defense, unveiled on Saturday, December 25th.
As indicated in the message, during the maneuvers took place, in particular, in the Astrakhan, Volgograd and Rostov regions, in the Stavropol and Kuban regions, in the republics of the North Caucasus and in the annexed Crimea. At the same time, “high combat readiness” will be maintained in these border military units, for which “duty units and means of reinforcement will be appointed during the New Year holidays,” the Defense Ministry said.
The buildup of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine since October has become worrisome in Ukraine and in the West. Western leaders fear Moscow is preparing for war. During a video summit on December 7, US President Joe Biden threatened Russian leader Vladimir Putin with “tough sanctions, including economic ones” in the event of a military escalation of the conflict with Ukraine.
Media: Satellite Images Indicate Border Contraction
During a press conference on December 23, Vladimir Putin did not answer directly the question of whether the Kremlin would allow a war with Ukraine. He stated that Russia does not threaten anyone, and reproached the “Kiev authorities” for allegedly preparing a military operation in the Donbass. In addition, Putin demanded that the West ban NATO eastward expansion and admit Ukraine to its membership.
On December 23 and 24, Bloomberg and Reuters published satellite images indicating a further pulling of Russian troops and equipment to the Russian-Ukrainian border. At the beginning of January 2022, consultations on the conflict in eastern Ukraine are planned to be held by the adviser to the Federal Chancellor for External Relations Jens Pötner (Jens Pötner) and the Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation Dmitry Kozak. A meeting between Biden and Putin is also due early next year.
See also:
-
Chronicle of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass
Checking weapons systems
So far, artillery fire on both sides of the Russian side of the border for testing purposes. According to official figures, the troops are checking the combat readiness of their weapons systems. In a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry, he makes a Russian self-propelled mortar.
-
Chronicle of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass
West expresses support for Ukraine
The West assures Kiev of its solidarity. In his first telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart, US President Joe Biden reiterated to Volodymyr Zelenskyy “the unwavering support of the United States for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression in Donbass and Crimea.” Representatives of NATO and the EU made similar statements.
-
Chronicle of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass
Troops are pulling up to Donbass
In early March, Russia began to strengthen its military presence on the border with Ukraine. Moscow said that in this way it responds to the provocations of Kiev, aimed at escalating the conflict in the Donbass. According to observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), there were no provocations.
-
Chronicle of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass
American destroyers are already in the Black Sea
The US, NATO and the EU have pledged support to protect its territorial integrity. On April 9, Ankara reported that the United States had already announced at the end of March the passage of two of its warships through the Bosphorus to the Black Sea. The picture shows one of two American destroyers that passed through the strait towards the Black Sea on March 20.
-
Chronicle of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass
A war that has been going on for seven years
The conflict in eastern Ukraine erupted in early 2014, when pro-Russian separatists took control of parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions. According to the authorities in Kiev and their Western allies, the Kremlin is helping the separatists by supplying illegal weapons and sending mercenaries. Since then, the parties to the conflict have not disclosed the ceasefire agreement.
-
Chronicle of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass
Bombed and destroyed
This man is standing on the ruins of his house, located on the territory of the self-proclaimed “DPR”. The house was destroyed during the fighting between the separatists and the Ukrainian army. They involve soldiers, mercenaries, separatists and paramilitary units. … At the beginning of 2019, according to the UN, about 3,300 civilians were killed in the Donbas.
-
Chronicle of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass
Clashes and deaths despite the truce
In total, since 2014, more than 13,000 people have died as a result of the fighting in Donbass. According to the OSCE, the current ceasefire has been relatively stable. However, shelling has recently become more frequent. In recent days, at least five Ukrainian soldiers and a five-year-old boy have been killed on the territory of the “DPR”. Kiev denies any involvement in his death.
-
Chronicle of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass
Zelensky presented awards to Ukrainian soldiers
On April 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Donbass and tried to sort out the situation on the spot. He awarded the Ukrainian soldiers who distinguished themselves in their service at the front. And on April 10, Zelensky will meet with Turkish President Erdogan. Ukrainian media report that Zelensky is also scheduled to meet with French President Macron.
-
Chronicle of a new aggravation of the conflict in Donbass
Russian citizenship under a simplified procedure
In 2019, Russia began to issue citizenship to residents of the “DPR” / “LPR” using a simplified procedure. According to various sources, about 600 thousand people with Russian citizenship now live there. Moscow has already announced that it will take all the necessary measures to protect them. A spokeswoman for the US President said that the Russian military is now the largest on the border with Ukraine since 2014.
By Jan Walter, Kevin Mertens