Ukraine urges swift action to ‘deter’ Russian invasion

Ukraine has called for swift action to “deter” Moscow from invasion, saying a Russian military operation could be launched “in the blink of an eye”.

A Ukrainian serviceman keeps watch at a position on the frontline with Russia-backed separatists. Picture: Anatolii Stepanov/AFP

Ukraine called for swift action on Monday to “deter” its Soviet-era master Moscow from invasion, saying that a Russian military operation could be launched “in the blink of an eye”.

Western countries have raised the alarm this month over reported Russian military activity near Ukraine, with the United States saying it has “real concerns” over a new troop build-up on the border.

A Ukrainian serviceman on the frontline with Russia-backed separatists in Donetsk region. Picture: Sergey Volskiy/AFP

“It’s better to act now, not later” to “deter Russia”, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said at a briefing for foreign media.

“What we are seeing is very serious. Russia has deployed a large military force in regions close to Ukraine’s state border.”

He said that Moscow has massed 115,000 troops around Ukraine, on the Crimean peninsula (which Russia annexed in 2014) and in two eastern regions occupied by pro-Russian separatists.

A Russian T-72-B3 tank during military exercises on September 23, 2020. Picture: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP

Tanks, artillery, electronic warfare systems and air and naval forces had also been deployed, he said.

“If Russia decides to undertake a military operation, things will happen in literally the blink of an eye,” the Foreign Minister told reporters.

But he added that Ukraine would fight back. He said the nation’s army has become “incomparably stronger” than in 2014 when breakaway fighters seized the Donetsk and Lugansk regions in a simmering conflict that has claimed more than 13,000 lives.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky holds a press conference on November 26, 2021. Picture: Handout/AFP

Alarm raised over troop movements

After an uptick in violence at the beginning of the year, Russia massed around 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders, raising fears of a major escalation.

Russia later announced a pullback but both Ukraine and its ally the US said at the time the withdrawal was limited.

Ukraine, the US, NATO and the European Union have raised the alarm about new Russian troop movements in recent weeks and warned about a possible invasion.

Moscow has dismissed the claims, accused Kiev of “provocations” and blamed Washington for escalating tensions in the region.