The military option is still on the table in the Kremlin
Ukraine does not observe the conduct of the Russian military in the conflict of the Russian Defense Ministry, and even on the contrary records their arrival.
According to a Ukrinform correspondent, this was reported by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to international organizations in Vienna Yevhen Tsymbalyuk during the establishment of the OSCE Permanent Council and the Forum for Security Co-operation on Friday in Vienna.
“Our estimate is based on facts from various sources, which currently deploy 87 to 100 battalion tactical groups or 126,500 to 150,000 servicemen in the immediate vicinity of Ukraine’s border and the occupied Crimean peninsula,” Tsymbalyuk said.
These Russian troops have 54 Iskander tactical missile systems, more than 1,800 tanks, more than 4,800 armored combat vehicles, more than 1,700 artillery systems and more than 600 volley fire missile systems. In addition, 430 combat aircraft and 360 helicopters are ready for use in the Ukrainian region.
In addition, Russia is strengthening the group’s capacity to conduct landing operations in the Black Sea by redeploying warships and caterines of the Baltic and Northern Fleets, as well as the Caspian Flotilla. The naval group in the area includes about 70 ships and boats, including 11 landing craft and about 30 landing craft.
The Ukrainian ambassador stressed that there were no justifiable grounds for Russia’s concentration of such forces and the conduct of large-scale military activities in the border areas with Ukraine.
According to Tsimbalyuk, there is also no confirmation of the withdrawal of Russian troops, as previously stated by Moscow. “We do not see confirmation of the withdrawal of Russian troops from the borders of Ukraine, and vice versa,” he said.
The diplomat pointed out that the behavior of the Russian occupation administrations in the ORDO is far from suggesting that the situation is contagious. “The military version, instead, is still on the table in the Kremlin,” he said.
Informing in detail about the sharp increase in targeted shelling of the positions of the Armed Forces and civilian infrastructure by the occupying forces, Tsymyuk also pointed out that the international community needs to “remain vigilant about Russia’s future actions.” According to him, against the background of military escalation, Moscow is sending its militant rhetoric and may “prepare the ground for casus belli.”
Against this background, the head of the Ukrainian mission to the OSCE reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to diplomacy and a peaceful settlement. He made a low recommendation, which is assessed in the framework of the OSCE Vienna Document, but also called on the participating countries to develop concrete actions that encourage Russia to choose the path of de-escalation.
As reported by Ukrinform, in response to past joint cooperation and the OSCE Permanent Council and Forum for Security Co-operation, convened at Ukraine’s request to consider Russia’s military presence along the border with Ukraine and in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories. At the same time, the Russian delegation refused to participate in the meeting and provide explanations to the OSCE participating States on its unusual military activities.