Russia continues collection of heavy weapons near Ukraine

Satellite images published Sunday by a private American company revealed details on military maneuvers at the Belarus border with Ukraine, ahead of joint military exercises between Moscow and Minsk. NATO has said this is the biggest defeat in Belarus since the Cold War.

Russia and Belarus have said they will hold joint military exercises from February 10th to February 20th aimed at training to repel a possible attack on the southern borders of their alliance. Russia has also provided some details of the missiles and fighter aircraft that it is sending for these exercises.

The new speculation and planned exercises are taking place at a time when tensions are high between Russia and the West due to the massive gathering of Russian forces on the border with Ukraine. Western states have accused Russia of preparing to invade Ukraine, meanwhile, Moscow has denied that it has such plans.

Images published by the US headquarters company Maxar Technology showed military units equipped with rockets, rocket launchers and offensive aircraft deployed in Belarus in three locations near the border that this state shares with Ukraine.

Russia continues collection of heavy weapons near Ukraine

Reuters news agency has failed to receive answers from Russia's Defence Ministry, and not from the Belarusn military officials regarding troop dislocation.

Maxar Technology said it has collected images of military equipment near Yelsk, Rechitsa and Lunites on February 4th. All these locations are about 50 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Maxar Technology said that in these satellite images, 15 ground strikers of Su-25 have been identified. The S-400 air defence system has also been seen at the Lounnets airport, and near Yelsk missiles have been photographed by SS26 Iscarnder and rocket launcher.

On Saturday, Russia's Defence Ministry said it has sent S-400 systems and Su-25 aircraft to participate in joint exercises. Before these exercises are held, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited a shooting range west of Belarus on Thursday.

Secretary - General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, has said last week that the maneuvers in Belarus are the largest Russian defeat in this area since the Cold War, and has added that even the nuclear-powered Iscarnder missiles are part of this disposal. / REL/