Russian troops now active in Rostov region, Black Sea - Ukrainian intelligence

The active phase of the Kavkaz 2020 military exercises of the Russian Armed Forces is scheduled for September 21-26, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Vadym Skibitsky, has said in an interview with the Segodnya online news site.

According to him, after the exercise begins, the strength of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine will be about 120,000 servicemen, at least 500 tanks, 300 planes and hundreds of pieces of other equipment and weapons. As of today, the activity of Russian troops is observed at the training grounds of the Southern Military District of Russia and at naval training grounds in the Black Sea, he said.

"The active phase of the Kavkaz 2020 exercises is scheduled for September 21-26. The main training grounds that will be involved are located in the Southern Military District. The exercises of the Russian troops, which are planned for this summer-autumn period, will take place near our borders. After the start of the active phase, the number of troops will be about 120,000 servicemen, 3,000 armored combat vehicles, including at least 500 tanks, 300 aircraft, 250 helicopters, 50 ships and up to five submarines. This is the threat that is clearly written out in the Military Doctrine of Ukraine," Skibitsky said.

He noted that the scale and scope of strategic military exercises in Russia began to grow rapidly after 2014.

When asked whether Russian troops are active near Ukraine's borders today and where exactly, he said: "Now there is activity, for example, in the Rostov region at the training grounds of the Southern Military District of Russia, at the naval training grounds in the Black Sea near occupied Crimea."

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