Military Build-Up At Russia-Ukraine Border, West Sceptical Of Vladimir Putin's Withdrawal Claim

The latest satellite images provided by the US space technology company Maxar show that wide-scale Russian military activity persists close to Ukraine's borders, despite recent Russian claims of de-escalation and withdrawal.

Taken in mid-February, they illustrate that Ukraine remains surrounded on three sides - on its borders with both Russia and Belarus - by Russian military hardware and troop concentrations.

Meanwhile, U.S President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have warned that Russia could be on the brink of invading Ukraine amid an apparent failure to withdraw troops from its side of the border and accusations of a possible false-flag operation in Ukraine’s east.

NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also voiced concern on Thursday that Russia may be attempting to “stage a pretext” for an attack on Ukraine following reports of shelling in the country’s conflict-hit east.