Ukrainian tanks and armored vehicles have been stationed en masse around the Donetsk region city of Slavyansk, satellite images leaked to media reveal. A Russian defense source says that artillery and rocket systems have also been deployed to the area.
RIA Novosti on Saturday published satellite images showing the
buildup of troops near the eastern Ukrainian anti-government
stronghold of Slavyansk. The photos, which are said to have been
taken during the latest stage of the so-called “anti-terrorist
operation” ordered by Kiev, are dated April 24-25.
The images appear to show part of military hardware used for the
current Ukrainian troops’ objective of “isolating” Slavyansk.
This photo says that a group of 21 APCs are visible at the time
of observation (center). It shows the northern outskirts of
Slavyansk where an animal feed stuff factory is located (lower
center).
Another group of 22 APCs is said to have been spotted 4 kilometers to the west of Slavyansk at the territory of a dairy farm. Ten tanks and 11 BMDs (airborne combat vehicles) are visible in another segment of the farm’s territory pictured above.
Groups of APCs can also be seen amassed on the western outskirts of Slavyansk.
A Russian Defense Ministry source commenting on the photos to RIA
Novosti said that they show only a fraction of the force
encircling the city.
According to the source, 160 tanks, 230 APCs and BMDs, and at
least 150 artillery and rocket systems, including “Grad” and
“Smerch” multiple rocket launchers, have been deployed to the
area. A total of 15,000 troops are positioned near Slavyansk, he
said.
The size of the force is “incommensurable” to that of
the city’s self-defense, the source said, adding that it would be
enough “to raze the city to the ground with all its
residents.”
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu on Thursday said the large
buildup of Ukraine troops, as well as war games and additional
deployments of armed forces to the NATO states in the region have
“forced” Russia to respond with military drills of its own.
“The order to use force against civilians has already been
given, and if this military machine is not stopped, the amount of
casualties will only grow,” Shoigu said during an official
meeting in Moscow.
Self-defense activists believe that Russia’s move has dissuaded
the coup-imposed Kiev authorities from storming Slavyansk, with
troops only raiding checkpoints on the outskirts of the city and
then retreating. However, Ukrainian acting defense minister,
Mikhail Koval, on Saturday asserted that the military operation
continues as planned “although its pace is not high.”
Speaking to journalists on the activity of the Russian troops on
the border with Ukraine, Koval also contradicted earlier claims of border
violations coming from Kiev and Washington. The Russian aircraft
spotted flying along the Ukrainian border were transport
airplanes, not fighter jets, and they never crossed the
borderline, he said. Also, the closest distance that the Russian
troops came to the Ukrainian border was 2-3 kilometers, he
revealed.