Poppy Bilderbeck
Satellite images have revealed the deployment of Russian troops and military equipment near Ukraine.
The satellite images add to growing concern spurred on by 10 days of military drills carried out by Russian and Belarusian troops, intel acquired by the US, and the estimation that Russia has amassed 70% of the weapons and military personnel it would need to invade Ukraine.
Russia has continued to deny plans to launch an invasion, with president Vladimir Putin having even accused the US of attempting to draw the country into war.
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However, the images, taken by Maxar Technologies and released yesterday February 10, reveal the gathering of Russian forces at a series of military bases located in Crimea, Gomel and Kursk.
The images mark the latest deployment of Russian military personnel near Ukraine, TRT World reports.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, per NBC: 'We're in a window when an invasion could begin at any time, and to be clear that includes during the Olympics.'
The Olympics, which are being held in Beijing, will finish on February 20.
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Putin was recently spotted at the Olympics seemingly falling asleep at the opening ceremony as the Ukraine Olympic team walked out.
Putin was among one of the few leaders to attend the ceremony, however General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xi Jinping was also seen in attendance.
Despite the leader recently publicly confirming their newfound allyship, Blinken still thinks Russia could attack Ukraine amid the Olympics.
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'Simply put, we continue to see very troubling signs of Russian escalation,' Blinken stated.
While tensions remain high between the countries, the Secretary of State reassured that the US would 'strongly prefer to resolve the differences [...] through diplomacy'.
He said: 'But at the same time, we've been very clear in building deterrence and building defence and making it clear to Russia that if it chooses the path of renewed aggression, it will face massive consequences.'
According to the Associated Press, Russia has refused to withdraw around 100,000 troops, as requested by the West.
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Demands for Ukraine to not be accepted into NATO, for the US and its allies to roll back its NATO deployment in Eastern Europe, and to not deploy offensive weapons, have also been rejected by NATO and Washington.
Alongside the recent satellite images, US president Joe Biden has reportedly urged all Americans currently residing in Ukraine to leave, which further indicates the current severity of the situation.
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