Russia prepares for offensive as reconnaissance, troops and aviation build up, - Naiev

Russia has three times increased its reconnaissance capacities which suggests it is preparing a full-scale offensive against Ukraine.

As reported by Censor.NET the Joint Forces Commander Serhii Naiev told Novoye Vremya.

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Several facts indicate Russia’s preparing for a large-scale offensive against Ukraine.

"Firstly, they increased the number of troops in the conflict zone. For example, at the Ukrainian-Russian border, the number of tactical battalions has been increased from 8 to 12. And it is only in the territory I am responsible for," said Naiev.

"They have also strengthened a ready-for-action aviation positioned across the front line near Donetsk," he added.

The key evidence of Russia's plans is that Russian sabotage-reconnaissance groups (SRGs) appeared in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which was discovered after the interception of their conversations.

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Ukraine military have discovered a special type of satellite communications used by the senior officers of the Russian army. The presence of Russian generals indicates that a rearrangement of Russian troops is taking place, which might be part of the preparation for an offensive.

Naiev said that the incident in the Kerch Strait in November suggested the possibility of Russia’s invasion.

Naiev argues that the Kerch incident is part of the Russian plan to take over the whole coast of the Sea of Azov and expand the territory of Russia's presence in the western direction through Mariupol all the way to the occupied Crimea. He warns that Russian propaganda about the alleged use of chemical weapons by Ukraine's military in Donetsk is a media support that might justify the need for an offensive.