New satellite images show the Russian military's alarming buildup along the Ukrainian border

Military equipment (including BMP-series IFVs, tanks and support equipment) in Soloti, Russia. Photo taken on Dec. 5, 2021.

New satellite images show the Russian military’s buildup along the Ukrainian border and in Crimea.
The increasing activity has stoked fears of a future invasion — plans that Russia has denied.
President Joe Biden warned Putin earlier in December of economic sanctions if Russia invades.

New satellite images show the Russian military’s alarming buildup along the Ukrainian border and in Crimea.

Russia’s buildup of personnel and equipment, including tanks, artillery, and armored troop carriers, has stoked fears of a future invasion — plans that Russia has denied.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday refused to rule out an invasion of Ukraine, claiming that the US and its western allies have tried to break up Russia since 1918. Putin has repeatedly accused NATO and the US of not respecting his “red lines” in Ukraine, and wants assurances that the former Soviet republic will never become a member of the alliance. Ukraine maintains a strong partnership with NATO, and has sought to join the alliance for years.

NATO has rejected Putin’s demands, but the US and Russia are poised to hold talks in January.

Experts say Putin views Ukraine as unfinished business, and is looking for an excuse to invade and blame the US and NATO.

Putin, a former KGB operative, has referred to Ukrainians and Russians as “one people” — implying the two countries should be unified. In 2014, Russia invaded and unilaterally annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Since then, Kremlin-backed rebels have been engaged in an ongoing war with Ukrainian troops in the eastern Donbass region that has killed more than 13,000 people.

The recent buildup of Russian troops along Ukraine’s border marks the second time this year that the Kremlin has sparked concerns of an impending invasion. Russia also amassed a huge force on the border with its next door neighbor in the spring.

Putin on Tuesday threatened to take “adequate military-technical response measures” in response to “unfriendly steps” from the West. Michael McFaul, former US ambassador to Russia, said Putin has been “acting crazy.”

The Russian president on Thursday accused the US, without evidence, of placing missiles at “Russia’s doorstep.”

Earlier this week, Russia’s defense minister baselessly claimed that US mercenaries were preparing to launch a chemical weapons attack from eastern Ukraine, an assertion the Pentagon promptly dismissed.

The US has provided Ukraine with weapons, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, and over $2.5 billion in security assistance since 2014. But NATO doesn’t have a permanent troop presence in Ukraine, and hasn’t deployed advanced missiles there.

President Joe Biden told Putin earlier in December that if Russia invaded Ukraine, there would be “economic consequences like none he’s ever seen or ever have been seen.” But Biden also said that the US had no obligation to deploy troops in response to a Russian invasion.

Satellite images by Maxar Technologies obtained by Insider from the past few months show increasing military activity at various strategic locations both in Russia and Crimea.

An overview of a Russian garrison shows that it housed a motor transport unit.A Russian garrison that recently housed a motor transport unit. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Oct. 7, 2021.

Here’s another view of the Russian unit arriving at a garrison.A new Russian brigade-level unit arrived in a garrison that recently housed a motor transport unit. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Dec. 13, 2021.

An aerial view of a Russian training area showed equipment and troops being deployed.Troops and equipment continue to be deployed and actively maneuvering and training in the exercise area. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Dec. 22, 2021.

Russian troops were deployed to Crimea and continue to train in the area.Troops and equipment continue to be deployed and actively maneuvering and training in the exercise area. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Dec. 22, 2021.

Here’s an overview of an active Russian training area in Crimea.Troops and equipment continue to be deployed and actively maneuvering and training in the exercise area. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Dec. 22, 2021.

Russian troops can be seen building up in Crimea at the end of November.Troops and equipment continue to be deployed and actively maneuvering and training in the exercise area. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Nov. 26, 2021.

Russia has increased its military equipment in Crimea. Tanks and artillery are lined up in neat rows in this satellite image from the end of November.Russian units include several battle groups with tanks, armored personnel carriers (APC), artillery, and associated support equipment. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Nov. 26, 2021.

Satellite photos show more tanks and artillery in training areas on the Crimean Peninsula back in October.Additional battle groups, including tanks and artillery, arrived at the garrison/training area on the western Crimean Peninsula. Photo taken on Oct. 18, 2021.

Here’s a closer view of Russian equipment buildup.Additional battle groups, including tanks and artillery, arrived at the garrison/training area on the western Crimean Peninsula. Photo taken on Oct. 18, 2021.

The troops were deployed to a training area approximately 160 miles north of the Russia–Ukraine border.Elements of the 41st Combined Arms Army are deployed in a training area located approximately 160 miles north of the Russia–Ukraine border. Photo taken on Nov. 9, 2021.

Hundreds of tanks, self-propelled artillery, and other military equipment can be seen along the border.Hundreds of tanks, self-propelled artillery, and other military equipment (including an Iskander mobile short range ballistic missile (SRBM) unit) are deployed in a training area located approximately 160 miles north of the Russia–Ukraine border. Photo taken on Nov. 9, 2021.

Elements of the 41st Combined Arms Army trained near the Russia-Ukraine border.Hundreds of tanks, self-propelled artillery, and other military equipment (including an Iskander mobile short range ballistic missile unit) are deployed in a training area located approximately 160 miles north of the Russia–Ukraine border. Photo taken on Nov. 1, 2021.

Multiple rocket units were deployed in a training area outside of Voronezh, Russia.Several Russian battle groups, including tanks, APC, artillery, and a long-range multiple rocket unit is deployed in the training area outside of Voronezh, Russia. Photo taken on Dec. 21, 2021.

Russian units were also seen training at a firing range on Tuesday.Russian units can also be seen conducting maneuver training and live-fire activity on the firing range. Photo taken in Voronezh, Russia, on Dec. 21, 2021.

Here’s more Russian military equipment in a training area outside of Voronezh, Russia.Several Russian battle groups, including tanks, APC, artillery, and a long-range multiple rocket unit is deployed in the training area outside of Voronezh, Russia. Photo taken on Nov. 26, 2021.

Russian units were seen training in live-fire activities at one site on Tuesday.Russian units can also be seen conducting maneuver training and live-fire activity on the firing range. Photo taken in Voronezh, Russia, on Dec. 21, 2021.

A battle group was also deployed at a training area east of Kursk, Russia.A recently deployed battle group has been identified in a training area to the east of Kursk, Russia. Equipment includes tanks, APC and troop tents. Photo taken on Dec. 21, 2021.

Russian military equipment also arrived to an existing garrison in Soloti, Russia.Additional equipment (including BMP-series IFVs, tanks, and support equipment) arrived to the existing garrison in Soloti, Russia. Photo taken on Sept. 7, 2021.

BMP-series IFVs, tanks, and support equipment arrived in Soloti, Russia earlier this month.Additional equipment (including BMP-series IFVs, tanks, and support equipment) arrived to the existing garrison in Soloti, Russia. Photo taken on Dec. 5, 2021.

And a new Russian military unit was recently identified in a training area near Valuyki, Russia.A new unit, likely of battle group strength, has been identified in a training area near the town of Valuyki, Russia. Photo taken on Dec. 20, 2021.