Russia has concentrated more than 40,000 servicemen, 500 aircraft and 300 tanks along Ukrainian border
The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported that groups of Russian troops involved in the surprise-combat readiness check are on high alert.
“A group of Russian Armed Forces, including 14 battalion tactical groups, 8 companies of tactical groups and 2 motorized rifle brigades, totaling about 41,600 servicemen was deployed along the State border with Ukraine in the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and the Crimea,” the statement says.
According to the Intelligence office, 4 Tochka-U tactical ballistic missiles, 298 tanks, 1,556 armored combat vehicles, 363 artillery systems, and 169 multiple-launch rocket systems are in service.
Additionally, 468 aircrafts and 303 helicopters from the Russian Armed Forces Army Aviation were concentrated in readiness for combat use on the borders of Ukraine in order to support the activities of a ground-based group of Russian troops preparing for the Caucasus 2016 strategic command and staff drills.