Russia moves troops along the Ukrainian border ready to protect its Sevastopol Navy base 2802141

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Defence & Security News - Ukraine

 
 
Friday, February 28, 2014 09:45 AM
 
Russia moves troops along the Ukrainian border ready to protect its Sevastopol Navy base.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered military exercises along the Ukrainian border involving 150,000 troops. Ukraine are raising concerns that Moscow may be putting troops in position to move across the border. Russia has repeatedly expressed concern for the safety of Russian citizens in Ukraine, using language similar to statements that preceded its invasion of Georgia in 2008.
     
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian military exercises near war games involving 150,000 troops along the Ukrainian border. Ukraine are raising concerns that Moscow may be putting troops in position to move across the border. Russia has repeatedly expressed concern for the safety of Russian citizens in Ukraine, using language similar to statements that preceded its invasion of Georgia in 2008.
A Russian BTR-80 armoured personnel carrier is driven on a street in Sevastopol, Ukraine's Black Sea Port that hosts a major Russian navy base
     
Russian military vehicles BTR-80 have been far more visible in recent days on the streets of Crimea, residents say, suggesting that Moscow, while probably not gearing up for armed conflict, wants to make its presence felt in this potentially volatile region, where it has a number of naval and other military facilities dating from the Soviet Union.

Ukraine's acting president warned Moscow to keep military personnel in his country confined to their naval base after suspected pro-Russian gunmen seized a regional government headquarters and parliament in the Crimea region.

Armed men who took control of the airport in Ukraine's Crimean regional centre of Simferopol on Friday, February 28, 2014, are patrolling the airport grounds but have not moved into the passenger terminal and appear to be allowing the airport to function normally.

U.S. military intelligence has seen some Russian naval ship movement near Ukraine since the weekend, but it sees no immediate indication the Russians are preparing for any offensive military action in Ukraine, two U.S. officials said.

Sevastopol is home to Russia's Black Sea fleet, so the ships could be used, if needed, to protect the base, Russian military assets and personnel, and Russian citizens around Sevastopol.