(Kiev) Russia continues to deploy troops around Ukraine and will be ready for a possible military “escalation” at the end of January, the Ukrainian defense minister said on Friday, at the height of tensions.
Ukrainian intelligence services estimate that “the most likely period” for the completion of Russian preparations for a “major escalation” is the end of January, Minister Oleksiï Reznikov told parliament. .
According to him, around 100,000 Russian troops could participate in a possible offensive. “Escalation is a possible scenario, but not inevitable. Our task is to prevent it ”, underlined the Minister.
Russia has already “started military exercises near Ukraine” and is “testing its communications,” he said.
Last week, Russian units in the Bryansk and Smolensk regions in northern Ukraine were “reinforced with tanks and armor”, according to Mr. Reznikov.
In eastern Ukraine, in the grip of a war against pro-Russian separatists since 2014, Ukrainian soldiers interviewed by AFP ruled a Russian offensive possible.
“Our task is simple: not to let the enemy (advance) in our country,” said Andriï, 29, smoking in a trench near the town of Svitlodarsk, in the Donetsk region.
“All our guys are ready to hold them back”, added his comrade, Ievguen, 24, adding: “This is our land, we will hold out until the end”.
The two men reported an intensification of separatist fire on their positions in recent days.
An AFP journalist heard mortar fire from the separatists, followed by a response from the Kiev forces.
“We were shot at with 82mm caliber mortars, a dozen shells,” said Ievguen, in a khaki uniform, helmet and bulletproof vest. “When we responded with the machine gun, we received grenade launcher fire.”
According to Andriï, separatist shootings have become “more frequent”. “We retaliate when we have the authorization. And it’s silence again ”.
For Yevgen, the movements of Russian troops on the border could be a means of pressure on Kiev. For him, it is a question of “simply showing that they are strong and that they can launch (an offensive) at any time”.
If Kiev and the West have said they fear a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has repeatedly denied any bellicose tendency.