Reznikov: 140,000 Russian troops already deployed near Ukraine’s border

As of today, there are a total of 140,000 troops along the borders of Ukraine from the direction of the Russian Federation, Belarus, and occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

"As of today, there is a ground component of 119,000 soldiers along all borders of Ukraine from the direction of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, and the temporarily occupied territories. If we add the air and sea components, there will be 140,000 troops. These are 72 battalion tactical groups, 11 of which are stationed in the Republic of Belarus. These are objective facts," Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov said on the air of ICTV channel on February 7.

The minister noted that the joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises "Union Determination 2022" would begin soon, but the Ukrainian Armed Forces would conduct its own exercises.

"Their exercises will last from February 10 to 20, but the Ukrainian Armed Forces are also working, so we will hold simultaneous drills at the training areas of Rivne, Kovel, Ovruch, Shyroky Lan, Oleshkivski Pisky, Chernihiv, Chuhuyiv, Sumy, Odesa," Reznikov said, adding that, the Ukrainian military will also conduct exercises using Bayraktar drones, Javelin systems, and NLAW missiles in other places.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Ukraine and international partners were closely following the Russian-Belarusian military exercises "Union Determination 2022" and had full information about the maneuvers near Ukraine’s border.

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