More than 100,000 Russian soldiers in assault vehicles painted with “invasion stripes” headed to Ukraine’s border on Wednesday, intensifying fears of war between neighboring nations.
The advanced force includes 1,300 battle tanks, 3,700 drones, 1,300 artillery and mortar units and 380 multi-launch rocket systems, according to documents leaked to The Daily Mirror.
Tensions between the countries have been rising since Russia’s annexation of Crimea’s Ukrainian territory in 2014; an attempt by Moscow to keep NATO away from its borders. Ukraine is not a member of NATO, but support for the organization has increased in recent years and the country is allied with many NATO nations, including the US.
Kyiv has claimed that 14,000 people have died in the ongoing conflict and many fear that Russian President Vladimir Putin believes the COVID-19 pandemic is the right time to attack and control large parts of the country, according to the report.
The appearance of painted stripes on Russian armored vehicles aimed at the front lines reminded military experts of similar streaks on tanks used by the Soviet army during the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia, reports The Mirror. Stripes are used as a deterrent against friendly fire.
The military exercise could also be seen as a challenge for the United States, as President Biden is expected to impose sanctions on Russia for electoral interference, piracy and rewards on Afghan troops.
The Biden administration has sent warships to the Black Sea to defend itself from military build-up and Russia has warned the US to withdraw.
The Kremlin has claimed to offer protection to pro-Russian citizens in eastern Ukraine, warning of a return of “Nazi Europe,” according to the article.