Russia launches new military exercises near Ukrainian border | News from Germany about Russia | Dw

The Russian military began firing exercises at combined-arms training grounds in regions located near the Ukrainian border, namely the Voronezh, Belgorod, Bryansk and Smolensk regions. This was reported by the press service of the RF Ministry of Defense on Tuesday, January 11.

It is indicated that about three thousand servicemen of the Red Banner Combined Arms Army of the Western Military District are involved in the exercises. “The main emphasis of the tactical exercises will be in the execution of control firing exercises from small arms and armored vehicles, in organizing marches with the active influence of sabotage and reconnaissance groups of a simulated enemy and in equipping strong points,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

In total, about 300 units of military equipment will be involved in the exercises, including T-72B3 tanks and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles.

Fears of a military invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine

The situation on the border between Russia and Ukraine began to aggravate at the end of 2021 due to the fact that Moscow pulled the Russian armed forces there to conduct exercises. These exercises, according to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, were completed on December 25, 2021.

Ukraine and the West fear that Russia is preparing for a military invasion and urge it to withdraw its troops. The Kremlin denies plans to conduct a military operation on Ukrainian territory and accuses the West of arming Ukraine and conducting exercises near Russian borders. Moscow is demanding legally binding security guarantees from the United States, in particular, NATO’s refusal to further expand eastward and Ukraine’s admission to the alliance.

Possible Western reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

On January 10, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, speaking to reporters after a meeting with US Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman in Geneva, assured that Russia has no plans to invade Ukraine. “We explained to our colleagues that we have no plans, no intentions to“ attack ”Ukraine, and cannot be, and all measures for the combat training of troops and forces are carried out within our territory, and there is no reason to fear an escalation scenario in this regard,” – he stressed.

Meanwhile, the United States is developing a response to the case of Moscow showing military aggression against Ukraine. Among the sanctions options discussed in Washington is the disconnection of the Russian Federation from the SWIFT international payment system. Possible retaliatory measures in the event of Russian aggression against Ukraine are also being prepared in the EU.

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