Muzhenko: Russia’s military threat to Ukraine highest since 2014

 “Russia has been ramping up its forces near the border with Ukraine since August and now poses the greatest military threat since 2014, the year Moscow annexed Crimea,” Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.

During the interview, General Viktor Muzhenko gestured to a series of satellite images which he said showed the presence of Russian T-62 M tanks stationed 18 km (11 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

He added that their number had more than doubled to 250 from 93 machines from mid September to October 1.

Therefore, he believes this is evidence of a concerted build-up of Russian forces in the run-up to Nov. 25, when Russia fired on and captured three Ukrainian vessels at the Kerch Strait, an action Kyiv’s leadership fears may be a precursor to a full-scale invasion.

Russia has no legal, moral or any other limits, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine underscored.

“In front of us is an aggressor who has no legal, moral or any other limits. It is very difficult to predict when it will occur to him to begin active combat actions against Ukraine,” Muzhenko said.

Ukraine was also expecting help from allies, mostly the United States, for equipment including air and naval reconnaissance, boats and weapons for ground troops, he said.

As the General summed up, Ukraine expects to complete the building of a military base on the Azov Sea, which had been planned before the navy clash, by next year.

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