Russia is again increasing the number of its troops at the border with Ukraine, which causes concern among some officials in the United States and Europe. He writes about it The Washington Post.
The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue publicly, said that the troop movement has again sparked concerns that arose in April, when Russia's largest troop buildup on the border with Ukraine in recent years sparked international protest.
In recent days, videos have appeared on social networks showing Russian military echelons and convoys transporting a large amount of military equipment, including tanks and missiles, to the south and west of Russia.
Michael Kofman, director of the program for the study of Russia at the non-profit analytical group CNA, said that what is happening is "not an exercise and it does not look like military training."
According to him, publicly available satellite images show that the forces of the 41st General Army of Russia, usually based in Novosibirsk, did not return to Siberia after the training, but instead joined forces with other Russian troops at the border with Ukraine.
Kofman also said that footage posted on the Internet appears to show that the 1st Guards Tank Army of Russia, an elite unit based near Moscow, is transferring personnel and equipment to Ukraine.
He is sure that this time the situation deserves special attention, since "the Russian tone and views on Ukraine have changed radically" in the last hour.
