New satellite images show the Russian military's alarming buildup along the Ukrainian border

Jake Epstein,John HaltiwangerDec 24, 2021, 01:35 IST

New satellite images show the Russian military's buildup along the Ukrainian border and in Crimea.
The increasing activity has stoked fears of a future invasion — plans that Russia has denied.

New satellite images show the Russian military's alarming buildup along the Ukrainian border and in Crimea.

Russia's buildup of personnel and equipment, like tanks, artillery, and armored troop carriers, has stoked fears of a future invasion — plans that Russia has denied.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday refused to rule out an invasion of Ukraine, arguing that the US and its western allies have tried to break up Russia since 1918.

President Joe Biden told Putin earlier in December that if Russia invaded Ukraine, there would be "economic consequences like none he's ever seen or ever have been seen."

Satellite images by Maxar Technologies obtained by Insider from the past few months show increasing military activity at various strategic locations both in Russia and Crimea.

A Russian garrison that recently housed a motor transport unit. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Oct. 7, 2021.

A new Russian brigade-level unit, comprised of several hundred armored vehicles that include BMP-series infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), tanks, self-propelled artillery and air defense equipment, arrived in a Russian garrison that recently housed a motor transport unit. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Dec. 13, 2021.

A new Russian brigade-level unit, comprised of several hundred armored vehicles that include BMP-series infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), tanks, self-propelled artillery and air defense equipment, arrived in a Russian garrison that recently housed a motor transport unit. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Dec. 13, 2021.Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies.

Troops and equipment continue to be deployed and actively maneuvering and training in the exercise area. Units include several battle groups with tanks, armored personnel carriers (APC), artillery and associated support equipment. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Dec. 22, 2021.

Troops and equipment continue to be deployed and actively maneuvering and training in the exercise area. Units include several battle groups with tanks, armored personnel carriers (APC), artillery and associated support equipment. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Dec. 22, 2021.Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies.

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Troops and equipment continue to be deployed and actively maneuvering and training in the exercise area. Units include several battle groups with tanks, armored personnel carriers (APC), artillery and associated support equipment. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Dec. 22, 2021.

Troops and equipment continue to be deployed and actively maneuvering and training in the exercise area. Units include several battle groups with tanks, armored personnel carriers (APC), artillery, and associated support equipment. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Dec. 22, 2021.Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies.

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Troops and equipment continue to be deployed and actively maneuvering and training in the exercise area. Units include several battle groups with tanks, armored personnel carriers (APC), artillery, and associated support equipment. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Nov. 26, 2021.Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies.

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Troops and equipment continue to be deployed and actively maneuvering and training in the exercise area. Units include several battle groups with tanks, armored personnel carriers (APC), artillery, and associated support equipment. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Nov. 26, 2021.Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies.

Additional battle groups, including tanks and artillery, arrived at the garrison/training area on the western Crimean Peninsula. Photo taken on Oct. 18, 2021.

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Elements of the 41st Combined Arms Army, including hundreds of tanks, self-propelled artillery and other military equipment (including an Iskander mobile short range ballistic missile (SRBM) unit) are deployed in a training area located approximately 160 miles north of the Russia–Ukraine border. Photo taken on Nov. 9, 2021.

Elements of the 41st Combined Arms Army, including hundreds of tanks, self-propelled artillery and other military equipment (including an Iskander mobile short range ballistic missile (SRBM) unit) are deployed in a training area located approximately 160 miles north of the Russia–Ukraine border. Photo taken on Nov. 9, 2021.Elements of the 41st Combined Arms Army, including hundreds of tanks, self-propelled artillery and other military equipment (including an Iskander mobile short range ballistic missile (SRBM) unit) are deployed in a training area located approximately 160 miles north of the Russia–Ukraine border. Photo taken on Nov. 1, 2021.

Elements of the 41st Combined Arms Army, including hundreds of tanks, self-propelled artillery, and other military equipment (including an Iskander mobile short range ballistic missile (SRBM) unit) are deployed in a training area located approximately 160 miles north of the Russia–Ukraine border. Photo taken on Nov. 9, 2021.Elements of the 41st Combined Arms Army, including hundreds of tanks, self-propelled artillery and other military equipment (including an Iskander mobile short range ballistic missile (SRBM) unit) are deployed in a training area located approximately 160 miles north of the Russia–Ukraine border. Photo taken on Nov. 1, 2021.Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies.

Elements of the 41st Combined Arms Army, including hundreds of tanks, self-propelled artillery and other military equipment (including an Iskander mobile short range ballistic missile (SRBM) unit) are deployed in a training area located approximately 160 miles north of the Russia–Ukraine border. Photo taken on Nov. 9, 2021.Elements of the 41st Combined Arms Army, including hundreds of tanks, self-propelled artillery and other military equipment (including an Iskander mobile short range ballistic missile (SRBM) unit) are deployed in a training area located approximately 160 miles north of the Russia–Ukraine border. Photo taken on Nov. 1, 2021.

Several Russian battle groups, including tanks, APC, artillery and a long-range multiple rocket unit is deployed in the training area outside of Voronezh, Russia. Units can also be seen conducting maneuver training and live-fire activity on the firing range. Photo taken on Dec. 21, 2021.

Several Russian battle groups, including tanks, APC, artillery, and a long-range multiple rocket unit is deployed in the training area outside of Voronezh, Russia. Units can also be seen conducting maneuver training and live-fire activity on the firing range. Photo taken on Dec. 21, 2021.Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies.

Several Russian battle groups, including tanks, APC, artillery and a long-range multiple rocket unit is deployed in the training area outside of Voronezh, Russia. Units can also be seen conducting maneuver training and live-fire activity on the firing range. Photo taken on Dec. 21, 2021.

Several Russian battle groups, including tanks, APC, artillery and a long-range multiple rocket unit is deployed in the training area outside of Voronezh, Russia. Units can also be seen conducting maneuver training and live-fire activity on the firing range. Photo taken on Dec. 21, 2021.

Several Russian battle groups, including tanks, APC, artillery and a long-range multiple rocket unit is deployed in the training area outside of Voronezh, Russia. Units can also be seen conducting maneuver training and live-fire activity on the firing range. Photo taken on Nov. 26, 2021.

Several Russian battle groups, including tanks, APC, artillery, and a long-range multiple rocket unit is deployed in the training area outside of Voronezh, Russia. Units can also be seen conducting maneuver training and live-fire activity on the firing range. Photo taken on Nov. 26, 2021.Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies.

Several Russian battle groups, including tanks, APC, artillery and a long-range multiple rocket unit is deployed in the training area outside of Voronezh, Russia. Units can also be seen conducting maneuver training and live-fire activity on the firing range. Photo taken on Dec. 21, 2021.

A recently deployed battle group has been identified in a training area to the east of Kursk. Equipment includes tanks, APC and troop tents. Photo taken on Dec. 21, 2021.

A recently deployed battle group has been identified in a training area to the east of Kursk. Equipment includes tanks, APC and troop tents. Photo taken on Dec. 21, 2021.Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies.

A recently deployed battle group has been identified in a training area to the east of Kursk. Equipment includes tanks, APC and troop tents. Photo taken on Dec. 21, 2021.

Additional equipment (including BMP-series IFVs, tanks and support equipment) arrived to the existing garrison in Soloti, Russia. Photo taken on Sept. 7, 2021.

Additional equipment (including BMP-series IFVs, tanks, and support equipment) arrived to the existing garrison in Soloti, Russia. Photo taken on Sept. 7, 2021.Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies.

Additional equipment (including BMP-series IFVs, tanks and support equipment) arrived to the existing garrison in Soloti, Russia. Photo taken on Dec. 5, 2021.

Additional equipment (including BMP-series IFVs, tanks and support equipment) arrived to the existing garrison in Soloti, Russia. Photo taken on Sept. 7, 2021.

Additional equipment (including BMP-series IFVs, tanks and support equipment) arrived to the existing garrison in Soloti, Russia. Photo taken on Dec. 5, 2021.

A new unit, likely of battle group strength, has been identified in a training area near the town of Valuyki, Russia. Photo taken on Dec. 20, 2021.

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New satellite images show the Russian military's alarming buildup along the Ukrainian border

A Russian garrison that recently housed a motor transport unit. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Oct. 7, 2021.

Troops and equipment continue to be deployed and actively maneuvering and training in the exercise area. Units include several battle groups with tanks, armored personnel carriers (APC), artillery and associated support equipment. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Dec. 22, 2021.

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Troops and equipment continue to be deployed and actively maneuvering and training in the exercise area. Units include several battle groups with tanks, armored personnel carriers (APC), artillery and associated support equipment. Photo taken in Crimea, Ukraine, on Dec. 22, 2021.

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Additional battle groups, including tanks and artillery, arrived at the garrison/training area on the western Crimean Peninsula. Photo taken on Oct. 18, 2021.

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Several Russian battle groups, including tanks, APC, artillery and a long-range multiple rocket unit is deployed in the training area outside of Voronezh, Russia. Units can also be seen conducting maneuver training and live-fire activity on the firing range. Photo taken on Dec. 21, 2021.

Several Russian battle groups, including tanks, APC, artillery and a long-range multiple rocket unit is deployed in the training area outside of Voronezh, Russia. Units can also be seen conducting maneuver training and live-fire activity on the firing range. Photo taken on Dec. 21, 2021.

Several Russian battle groups, including tanks, APC, artillery and a long-range multiple rocket unit is deployed in the training area outside of Voronezh, Russia. Units can also be seen conducting maneuver training and live-fire activity on the firing range. Photo taken on Nov. 26, 2021.

Several Russian battle groups, including tanks, APC, artillery and a long-range multiple rocket unit is deployed in the training area outside of Voronezh, Russia. Units can also be seen conducting maneuver training and live-fire activity on the firing range. Photo taken on Dec. 21, 2021.

A recently deployed battle group has been identified in a training area to the east of Kursk. Equipment includes tanks, APC and troop tents. Photo taken on Dec. 21, 2021.

Additional equipment (including BMP-series IFVs, tanks and support equipment) arrived to the existing garrison in Soloti, Russia. Photo taken on Sept. 7, 2021.

Additional equipment (including BMP-series IFVs, tanks and support equipment) arrived to the existing garrison in Soloti, Russia. Photo taken on Dec. 5, 2021.

Additional equipment (including BMP-series IFVs, tanks and support equipment) arrived to the existing garrison in Soloti, Russia. Photo taken on Sept. 7, 2021.

Additional equipment (including BMP-series IFVs, tanks and support equipment) arrived to the existing garrison in Soloti, Russia. Photo taken on Dec. 5, 2021.

A new unit, likely of battle group strength, has been identified in a training area near the town of Valuyki, Russia. Photo taken on Dec. 20, 2021.