According To The United States, Russia Is Preparing A Full-scale Invasion Of Ukraine, Which Might Result In The Death Of Up To 50 000 Civilians

According to US intelligence estimates, Russia is accelerating preparations for a large-scale invasion of Ukraine and has now assembled 70% of the forces necessary to carry out such an attack, US officials claimed.

Russia has amassed 110, 000 troops at its border with Ukraine, but US intelligence authorities have not assessed if President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade, according to officials who briefed members of Congress and European allies in recent days.

Officials told lawmakers that the Russian army amassed on Ukraine’s border is rising at a rate that will provide Putin with the force he requires for a full-scale invasion – approximately 150 000 men – by mid-February.

Rather than that, the officials stated, Putin wishes to have all available options: from a small invasion of Ukraine’s pro-Russian Donbas region to a full-scale, all-out attack.

Russia denies any intention of invading Ukraine.

If Russia chooses to launch a full-scale invasion, the invading force could seize Kyiv and depose President Volodymyr Zelensky within 48 hours, officials stated.

Such an onslaught would kill between 25 000 and 50 000 people, as well as between 5 000 and 25 000 Ukrainian and 3 000 to 10 000 Russian forces. It could also precipitate a one- to five-million-person refugee flood, primarily into Poland, officials added.

A first detachment of US soldiers arrived in Poland on Saturday, where President Joe Biden has opted to send American military to safeguard NATO member states from “potential aggression,” while diplomats work feverishly to urge Russia to withdraw its troops from the Ukraine border.