Satellite images released Thursday show new military deployments in Crimea, Belarus and western Russia near Ukraine amid growing concern that Russia could try to invade its neighbor.
Maxar Technologies released the images, which were taken Wednesday and Thursday.
Several show more than 500 troop tents and hundreds of vehicles at Oktyabrskoye airfield, an abandoned airfield north of Simferopol, the second largest city on the Crimean peninsula. Additional images show artillery deployments and training activity, as well as a new deployment in Slavne, also on the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014.
Overview of new Russian military deployments at Oktyabrskoye airfield, Crimea, Feb. 10, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows a tent camp and equipment at the northern end of Oktyabrskoye airfield, Crimea, Feb. 10, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows equipment and tents at Oktyabrskoye airfield, Crimea, Feb. 10, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows troops and equipment at Oktyabrskoye airfield, Crimea, Feb. 10, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows equipment and tents at the southern end of Oktyabrskoye airfield, Crimea, Feb. 10, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Overview of new Russian military deployments at Novoozernoye, Crimea, Feb. 9, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows equipment and new deployments at Novoozernoye, Crimea, Feb. 9, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows troop tents and a field hospital at Novoozernoye, Crimea, Feb. 9, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Overview of multiple rocket launcher and self-propelled artillery training at Novoozernoye, Crimea, Feb. 9, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows multiple rocket launcher and self-propelled artillery training at Novoozernoye, Crimea, Feb. 9, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Overview shows new Russian military deployments at Slavne, Crimea, Feb. 9, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows armored vehicles at Slavne, Crimea, Feb. 9, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Overview shows new Russian deployments at Kursk training area, Russia, Feb. 9, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Overview shows multiple battle groups and troop housing areas at Kursk training area, Russia, Feb. 9, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows multiple battle groups and troop housing areas at Kursk training area, Russia, Feb. 9, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows tents and troop housing area at Kursk training area, Russia, Feb. 9, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows armored vehicles and transporters arriving at Kursk training area, Russia, Feb. 9, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) A recently deployed battle group has been identified in a training area to the east of Kursk, Russia, Dec. 21, 2021. (Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies) Overview of Russian military deployments at Zyabrovka airfield, Belarus, Feb. 10, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows troop housing area and a field hospital at Zyabrovka airfield, Belarus, Feb. 10, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows troops and equipment at Zyabrovka airfield, Belarus, Feb. 10, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows armored vehicle deployments at Zyabrovka airfield, Belarus, Feb. 10, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows helicopters and troop tents at Zyabrovka airfield, Belarus, Feb. 9, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Overview of Russian military deployment areas in Rechitsa, Belarus, Feb. 9, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows troop housing area and battle group vehicles at Rechitsa, Belarus, Feb. 9, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows additional troop housing area and battle group vehicles at Rechitsa, Belarus, Feb. 9, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Closer view shows troops and vehicles at Rechitsa, Belarus, Feb. 9, 2022 (Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies) Military vehicles and helicopters were also identified at an airfield near Gomel, Belarus, about 15 miles from the border with Ukraine. Troops are also deployed near Rechitsa, Belarus, which is about 28 miles from the borer with Ukraine.
Additional equipment has arrived at the Kursk training area in western Russia since Maxar first released images of that site in December.
There is growing concern surrounding Russia’s military movements near Ukraine. The head of Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency told Military Times in November that Russia was preparing for an attack , but Russia has repeatedly denied allegations it is planning an invasion .
Russia requested that NATO would not extend membership to Ukraine or other ex-Soviet nations, which was rejected by Washington and its allies. Russian President Vladimir Putin continued diplomatic talks this week in France , where French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters Putin told him Moscow would not further escalate the Ukraine crisis.
U.S. troops are already beginning to arrive in Poland on President Joe Biden’s orders to deploy American forces to NATO allies in Germany, Poland and Romania. It is not clear how long the troops will be stationed there .
An additional 8,500 troops are on heightened alert for possible deployment , but Biden promised American troops will not be deployed to Ukraine if Russia invades .
