Images appearing on the Telegram social network yesterday showed the train carrying many combat vehicles of the Buk-M1 air defense system and accompanying equipment, along with the T-80U main battle tank and Msta-self-propelled guns.
Military experts point out the presence of the 9S18M1 Kupol radar, showing that the Buk-M1 unit at this station has the smallest battalion size, instead of just single combat batteries.
Combat vehicles of the Buk-M1 complex on a train at Maslovka station on December 6.
The Russia-based CIT conflict information analysis group believes that this series of weapons was mobilized from Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod and Smolensk provinces, belonging to the forces of the 4th Guards Tank Division, 288th Artillery Brigade and
British Army Chief of Staff Tony Radakin yesterday expressed deep concern with Russia’s force mobilization, warning that an attack on Ukraine could lead to `the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II`.
British Defense Minister Ben Wallace said the country is preparing a series of measures to deal with the risk of Russia attacking Ukraine, including deploying a reconnaissance group to Lithuania, a country bordering the Kaliningrad territory.
President Joe Biden said on December 8 that the US has an obligation to protect NATO allies if they are attacked, but this does not apply to Ukraine.
The US and its allies have for weeks accused Russia of gathering more than 100,000 troops along the border and planning to attack Ukraine.
Location of Maslovka station in Voronezh province of Russia.
Russia described these accusations as `hysterical`, denied reports of aggressive intentions and claimed Western provocations, especially with the exercises in the Black Sea.
Relations between Russia and Ukraine have deteriorated since 2014 when Moscow annexed the Crimean peninsula and supported separatist forces in the Donbass region.
Ukraine, a non-NATO member, has long sought to strengthen ties with the West, while Russia firmly opposes the idea of Ukraine joining NATO.
