Fears grow of imminent invasion of Ukraine as Russia accused of massing troops on border

Moscow is being accused of assembling at least 100,000 soldiers close to its border with Ukraine as fears grow of a new conflict.

The UK and US are worried about an apparent massing of Russian troops near the Russian-Ukraine border. Picture: AFP/Satellite image/Maxar Technologies

Around 100,000 Russian troops have descended on the country’s border with Ukraine amid fears of an imminent invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Western countries have shared intelligence about Moscow military movement after the US warned of a potential attack.

Mr Zelensky said in a speech on his website: “I hope the whole world can now clearly see who really wants peace and who is concentrating nearly 100,000 soldiers at our border.”

But the Kremlin has hit back at the suggestions and instead said there is increasing activity in the region by the NATO transatlantic alliance, reported The Sun.

The Ukrainian Defence Ministry previously put the number of Russian troops near the border at 90,000 on November 3.

It follows the release of shocking video which appeared to show Russian tanks, armoured vehicles and soldiers massing near the city of Voronezh – 300km from the Ukrainian border.

The vehicles, which include a battalion of T-80U main battle tanks, are understood to have been brought down from the Moscow area.

Other clips show tanks being carried by train close to the city, while further footage shows a line of military troop-carrying trucks travelling down a highway in Bryansk around 160km from the border.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Picture: Mikhail Metzel/AFP

Washington, London concerned at Russian moves

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the White House as being “very concerned” about the potential “attempted rehash” of Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine, which used to be part of the Soviet Union.

He said due to the country’s history of aggressive action and current uncertainty, “We have real concerns about what we’re seeing in the present.”

But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Western media reports that Moscow has intentions to invade Ukraine as a “hollow and unfounded attempt to incite tensions”.

He said: “Russia doesn’t threaten anyone. The movement of troops on our territory shouldn’t be a cause for anyone’s concern.”

An image taken on November 1, 2021 shows the presence of a large ground forces on the northern edge of the town of Yelnya, Smolensk Oblast, Russia. Picture: AFP/Satellite image/Maxar Technologies

British sources said the UK government was also anxious about the intelligence and there was “twitchiness” and “anxiety” among officials.

And Britain’s most senior military officer admitted he too is “worried” about the unfolding threat from Russia in Eastern Europe.

UK chief of defence staff General Sir Nick Carter warned that the UK must be “on guard” over Vladimir Putin’s intentions with Ukraine and tensions with Belarus.

The Russian leader has come under fire for igniting a migrant crisis in the Poland-Belarus border to destabilise Europe.

His country deployed two nuclear bombers to patrol the skies over Belarus amid the bitter border dispute.

But Mr Putin today insisted he was “ready to help” resolve the growing crisis “by all means if, of course, anything would depend on us”.

Russia is a key ally of Belarus, which the European Union says is responsible for flying in thousands of migrants, most of them from the Middle East, and pushing them to try to cross the EU border illegally into Poland.

Russia denies Moscow and Minsk were involved, and Mr Putin blamed the West for the crisis referring to conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has made the fresh warning. Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP

Fear of Russian ‘knockout blow’

A 600-strong task force of British special forces – including SAS commandos and soldiers from the Parachute Regiment – are being prepared to deploy to Ukraine to help secure the situation.

Sir Nick told BBC presenter Andrew Marr that Britain “stands behind Poland” under the circumstances – which remain tense as Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko demanded Russia send him nuclear-capable missiles.

And it is suspected the shadowy hand of Russia is playing a key role, further fuelling fears that Mr Putin may finally launch an attack.

There is unease that Russia may rely on blitzkrieg-style assault to storm its way across the country.

The tactic – made famous by Hitler’s armoured divisions invading Belgium and France in 1940 – would seek to hit a knockout blow before Ukraine and the West could react and redraw the “frontline”, similar to what happened in Crimea.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission