14 minutes agoAmericans alarm: Avian, bomber and soldier, 75% of Russian forces bordering Ukraine
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)According to the latest US intelligence assessment, Russia now has close to 75% of its conventional forces deployed against Ukraine, an American official with direct intelligence knowledge told CNN. Focusing on forces within Ukraine's striking distance is very unusual and part of the reason the US believes Russia is [...]
Focusing on forces within Ukraine's striking distance is very unusual, and part of the reason the US believes Russia is ready to attack, the official said.
This includes about 120 out of a total of 160 tactical battalion groups, or Russia's estimated BTG, which are located within 60km of Ukraine, according to the official. While this figure represents 75% of Russia's main combat units, it is less than half the total of troops in the Russian Army.
US officials have reported that Russian troops combined with separatist forces may be up to 190,000 deployed around Ukraine.
About 35 of the 50 known air defence battalions have been deployed against Ukraine. In addition, the US estimates that about 500 fighter planes and bombers are within Ukraine's range, as well as 50 medium and heavy bombers.
Together, Russian forces are now much larger than Ukrainian military forces, according to the assessment. /abcnews.al/
