While the equipment is still in transit, officials and analysts are debating
whether it represents the next phase in
the Kremlin's build-up that has already
placed more than 100,000 troops near its
country's border with ukraine.
As diplomats were holding negotiations
over the Ukraine crisis this week, Russia
began moving tanks, infantry fighting
vehicles, rocket launchers and other
military equipment westward from their
bases in its far east, according to
ukrainian, u.s officials and social media
reports.
With more than 100,000 troops already
stationed on russia's border with
ukraine, officials and analysts are
debating whether this is the kremlin's
next step in its military buildup.
Russia has 100,000 troops lined up next
to ukraine with tanks and artillery, while it remains unclear whether russia
will invade ukraine, experts such as
retired Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Venmen are not confident that russian President Vladimir Putin will hold off.
On a scale of one to ten with ten being
most likely that an invasion will happen, then man gives it an eight. the most likely scenario in my mind is a
major military offensive in ukraine, said
vinman a former director for european
affairs at the u.s national security
council.
" Ihope i'm wrong but that's what
i see," he added.
The developments of new russian troops
came after no breakthrough was reached
at meetings between russia and western
states which fear moscow could launch a
new attack on a country it invaded in
2014. The drumbeat of war is sounding
loud, said a senior us diplomat.
Russia denies plans to attack ukraine
but says it could take unspecified
military action unless demands are met, including a promise by the NATO alliance
never to admit Kiev. Russia said troops in its far east would
practice deploying to far-away military
sites for exercises as part of an
inspection.
Defense ministry footage
released by the russian news agency
showed numerous armored vehicles and
other military hardware being loaded
onto trains in the eastern military
district. This is likely cover for the units being
moved towards ukraine, said rob lee a
military analyst and a fellow at the
us-based foreign policy research
institute.
According to the u.s diplomat, the
movements indicated russia has no
intention of dialing down tensions over
ukraine, having used its troop buildup to
force the west to the negotiating table
and press sweeping demands for security
guarantees, key elements of which have
been described by the united states as
non-starters.
U.S President's national security
adviser, Jake Sullivan said that the U.S intelligence community has developed
information that russia is laying the
groundwork to have the option of
fabricating a pretext for an invasion, including through sabotage activities
and information operations, by accusing
ukraine of preparing an imminent attack
against russian forces in eastern
ukraine.
At the same time Biden's adviser noted
that the intelligence has no information
yet on whether Putin has made a final
decision on his further intentions as
regards ukraine.
According to the official, the united
states and our european allies and
partners are prepared for multiple
different eventualities. Sullivan stressed that the american side
aims to pursue further diplomatic
efforts to advance security and
stability.
"We are also united with our allies and
partners that if russia chooses to go a
different way for whatever reason, for no
reason at all, well we'll be ready for that," the White House advisor said.
Describing the recent talks with the
russians on the part of the united
states and NATO, Sullivan called them
frank and direct adding that no
agreement had been reached so far.
In this regard, he noted that the united
states would first consult with the
allies in europe. He reiterated that the u.s had been very
clear with russia on the costs and
consequences of further military action
or destabilization in ukraine.
Meanwhile ukrainian authorities were
investigating a huge cyber attack, which
hit government bodies including the
ministry of foreign affairs cabinet of
ministers and security and defense
council.
Ukraine has been hit by a massive cyber
attack with the websites of several
government departments including the
ministry of foreign affairs and the
education ministry knocked out.
Officials said it was too early to draw
any conclusions but they pointed to a
long record of russian cyber assaults
against ukraine, with the attack coming
after security talks between moscow and
the us and its allies this week ended in
stalemate.
Suspected Russian hackers left a message
on the foreign ministry website, according to reports it said, "Ukrainians
all information about you has become
public. Be afraid and expect worse, it's
your past, present and future".
The message reproduced the ukrainian
flag and map crossed out. It mentioned
the ukrainian insurgent army or UPA which fought against the soviet union
during the second world war. there was also a reference to historical
land.
In a message to the guardian the foreign
ministry spokesperson, Oleg Nikolenko
said as a result of a massive cyber
attack. The website of the ministry of
foreign affairs and other government
agencies are temporarily down.
He added, "our specialists have already
started restoring the work of IT Systems and the Cyber Police has opened
an investigation."
NATO Secretary General Jen Stoltenberg
and Joseph Burrell the EU's top diplomat, condemned the attacks. Burrell said the EU's political and
security committee and cyber units would
need to decide how to respond and to
support kiev.
"We are going to mobilize all our
resources to help ukraine to tackle this. sadly, we knew it could happen," he said.
He
added, "it's difficult to say who is
behind it. I can't blame anybody as i
have no proof, but we can imagine."
Stoltenberg said NATO and Ukraine would
in the coming days sign an agreement on
enhanced cyber cooperation. "Kiev would get access to NATO's malware
information sharing platform," he said.
Sweden's foreign minister Ann Lin said
the west must stand up to any russian
aggression.. "We have to be very firm in
our messages to Russia, that if there are
attacks against Ukraine. We will be very
harsh and very strong and robust in our
response," she said.
"Sweden stood in solidarity with Kiev," she
added.
