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| Image by Ukrainian Ministry of Defense |
Kiev is concerned about the upcoming Caucasus 2020 exercises which, according to Ukrainians may become a pretext for mobilization and transfer to a territory controlled by separatists of a significant number of soldiers and equipment. Today, as the representatives of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine argue, Russia has over 85,000 troops in this region, about 1,100 tanks, twice as many armored vehicles, 300 aircraft and 230 helicopters.
Ukrainian experts and military are afraid that under the pretext of the preparations for the exercise Russia may strengthen the so-called separatists and the begin of the offensive in the east of the country. This fear is justified because both the Georgia war in 2008 and the annexation of Crimea were preceded by large exercises of the Russian armed forces in adjacent areas.
