On Thursday, at a meeting with military attaches of foreign states, the chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, commented on Western accusations that Moscow is allegedly concentrating forces on the border with Ukraine to prepare an invasion of a neighboring state.
"NATO countries pay excessive attention to the movement of troops on the territory of the Russian Federation. The redeployment of units during combat training is a routine practice for the armed forces of any State. Military activity is carried out on national territory and does not require notification. The information spread in the media about Russia's allegedly impending invasion of Ukraine is a lie," the general said.
At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that the supply of helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and airplanes is pushing the Ukrainian authorities to take drastic and dangerous steps.
"Kiev is not fulfilling the Minsk agreements. The Ukrainian armed forces declare the beginning of the use of Javelin ATGM in the Donbas, which were supplied by the United States, and also use reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicles of Turkish production. As a result, the already tense situation in the east of this country is escalating. However, any provocations by the Ukrainian authorities to resolve the problems of Donbass by force will be stopped," Gerasimov assured.
Yuri Gavrilov