Ukraine – Russia Crisis: Russian troops retreat
Ukrainian officials are watching for Russian-led cyberattacks that could look to create panic and destabilize Ukraine from the inside.
Russia said on February 15 it was pulling back some of its forces near the Ukrainian border to their bases. Russia did not say how many units, and how far, after a build-up of some 130,000 Russian troops. NATO welcomes signals from Russia that it may be looking for a diplomatic solution. The move came amid an intense diplomatic effort to avert a feared Russian invasion of its pro-Western neighbour. Moscow amassed more than 1,00,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders.
‘Once the combat training events are completed, the troops will march in unison to their permanent deployment points,’ he added. Tensions over Ukraine have risen in recent months, with Russia and NATO accusing each other of amassing troops on the Russian-Ukrainian border. The US and Ukraine accuse Russia of planning an invasion.
Meanwhile, Moscow denies the allegations and insists that it has no plans to attack any country. Near the Ukrainian border, Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops. The troop build-up has alarmed the United States and NATO allies, who fear that Russia is planning a military incursion. Russia, on the other hand, has consistently denied having such plans.
Various sources are suggesting that Russia may attack Ukraine at around 1 am (UK time) Wednesday with a massive missile blitz and 200,000 troops. Earlier in the day, Moscow said that some military forces deployed at the Ukrainian border were being sent back to bases. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also said that UK intelligence on Russia-Ukraine tension is ‘not encouraging’.
