By Kanishka Singh and Dan Whitcomb
(Reuters) – Satellite tv for pc imagery taken this week exhibits army exercise in a number of areas throughout Belarus, the annexed Crimea area of Ukraine and western Russia close to Ukraine’s border, a personal U.S. firm mentioned on Friday.
U.S.-based Maxar Applied sciences, which has been monitoring the buildup of Russian forces for weeks, mentioned the pictures present current helicopter deployments, consisting of each troop transport and floor assault helicopters, at a number of areas near the border. Additionally they present extra floor assault plane, air protection items and drone gear have been deployed, it mentioned.
Reuters couldn’t independently confirm what was proven within the photographs.
U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has determined to invade Ukraine, and that he was spreading false data to attempt to construct a pretext for a army strike that would occur in days. Russia says it has no such intention and accuses the West of irresponsible fear-mongering.
Maxar mentioned the pictures confirmed that a big new deployment of no less than 50 helicopters had arrived in northwest Belarus.
A brand new helicopter unit and battle group deployment consisting of tanks, armored personnel carriers and assist gear was deployed at an airfield about 16 kilometers (9.9 miles) from the Ukraine border, the satellite tv for pc agency mentioned.
(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb and Kanishka Singh; Enhancing by Leslie Adler and Tim Ahmann)
