New satellite imagery shows intensified activity among Russian units close to Ukraine’s northeastern border, with units that were in garrisons appearing to take up field positions.
The satellite images were collected by Maxar on Sunday.
Maxar assesses that “multiple new field deployments of armored equipment and troops have been observed northwest of Belgorod and near Soloti and Valuyki, Russia.”
These towns are within 35 kilometers (around 21 miles) of the Russian border with Ukraine.
Maxar observes, “This new activity represents a change in the pattern of the previously observed deployments of battle groups (tanks, armored personnel carriers, artillery and support equipment). Until recently, most of the deployments had been seen primarily positioned at or near existing military garrisons and training areas.”
“Today (Sunday) most of the combat units and support equipment at Soloti have departed and extensive vehicle tracks and some convoys of armored equipment are seen throughout the area.”
The images show that encampments or staging grounds that contained substantial forces last Sunday, February 13, are now relatively empty.
“Some equipment has also been deployed east of nearby Valuyki, Russia in a field approximately 15 kilometers north of the Ukraine border,” Maxar noted.
Separately, CNN has geolocated several videos from the region over the weekend that show long columns including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and howitzers moving through rural areas in the Belgorod oblast (district).
“A number of new field deployments are also seen northwest of Belgorod (deployments are approximately 30 kilometers from the border with Ukraine) with much of the equipment and troops positioned in or near forested areas,” Maxar observed.
The images show extensive tracks where armor has moved across the countryside.
“Other company-sized units are deployed within farm and/or industrial areas.”
CNN has observed that some tanks and other vehicles in the area appears to have been marked with a large “Z” — suggesting they are being formed into a fighting unit.
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